Electrochlorination is a method of disinfecting water to make it potable and safe for human use and consumption. Sodium hypochlorite, otherwise known as bleach, is produced when electrical currents pass through saltwater. The resulting bleach is then diluted to make it safe to use in the purification of water for swimming pools, drinking water and numerous other uses.
Tracing electrochlorination’s roots
Through chlorination, all pathogens that may cause illnesses such as typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, and cholera, all with water borne origins, are killed. This process is one of many water purification strategies that has been around for centuries, ever since it was discovered that chlorine’s bleaching capabilities could be used for safe drinking water. It was popularised in the late 1800s and early 1900s when these diseases were rampant due to the polluting effects of industrialisation on water supplies, together with poor sewage systems. The adoption of this method has paved the way for many further developments, especially as chlorine is a relatively inexpensive means of treating water. As it can improve the smell and taste of water, chlorination has been used in facilities for municipal water treatment.
How electrochlorination works
In some cases, electrochlorination can also be used on saltwater from the ocean, although there is a risk of some by-products. Salts or dissolved chlorides from seawater may cause localised corrosion of metals and stainless steel. When brine or common salt is electrolysed, the solution contains 0.8% of sodium hypochlorite, which can be directly added to water as a disinfectant.
Advances in the field of engineering have allowed this method to take effect on a large scale, for example with a power delivery system design that supports bigger loads. Accommodating heavier loads is crucial for preparing mechanisms for widespread adoption. Many of today’s electrochlorinators can produce around 8–140 litres of sodium hypochlorite in its concentrated form in roughly eight hours, depending on the model. This solution can subsequently be used to generate 60,000 to 1 million litres of drinking water, with 1 ppm of chlorine.
Implications of electrochlorination
Due to its scalability and lower costs, electrochlorination is a reasonable method to use for smaller villages. At this level, communities or individuals may be able to purchase chlorination devices to produce a litre of sodium hypochlorite solution in as little as an hour. This can be used for individual households and can even be used as disinfectants for other surfaces and materials. Entrepreneurs can benefit from this as it can provide a means of income through the process itself and also through distribution. Electrochlorination is arguably one of the best public health inventions which has benefitted people for centuries. Clean drinking water is one of the most important things in life, and electrochlorination has democratised its access, making it not merely a privilege, but a necessity and basic human right for all.
This article was supplied and written by Ruella Jeane (mrsreesewrites@gmail.com)
