Type 1 (Ultrapure) Milli-Q

The production of ultrapure (Type 1) water demands a combination of different water purification techniques, each removing specific contaminants.

Ion-Exchange Resin
Ion-Exchange Resins are small (<1.2 mm) porous beads with ion-exchange binding sites covalently bound on the surface and inside the beads. Millipore Jetpore ion-exchange resins are characterized by high-binding capacity, fast ion-exchange kinetics to reach high resistivity and low TOC release.



Synthetic Activated Carbon
Synthetic activated carbon is produced by the controlled pyrolysis of porous polystyrene beads. The activated carbon has a large developed surface (>1000 m2/gram) and binds organic molecules on the walls of the pores by Van der Waals forces such as hydrophobic interactions.



UV Photo-Oxidation Lamps
UV lamps at 185 and 254 nm wavelengths provide the energy required to convert the oxygen dissolved in water into hydroxyl radicals, a powerful oxidizing agent that will transform dissolved organics first into charged molecules and ultimately into carbon dioxide that will react with water, generating bicarbonate and carbonate ions that can be removed by ion-exchange resins.	Click image to enlarge



Microfiltration Membranes
Microfiltration membranes are screen filters that retain all contaminants (particulates and bacteria) larger than their pore size on their surface. Millipore membrane filters such as the Millipak filter have been validated for sterilizing filtration and are delivered with a certificate of quality.



Ultrafiltration Membranes
Ultrafiltration membranes used in Millipore water purification solutions are hollow fibers that provide a large surface within a small volume and therefore supply the required flow rate with minimum space occupancy. Millipore Pyrogard 5000 and BioPak UF devices have been validated for the efficient removal of pyrogens and nucleases (RNase, DNase). In addition, UF membranes also retain most colloids on their surface. These water purification techniques are organized in an optimized process sequence to make sure that the highest water purity level is reached. Intermittent recirculation of the water allows water quality to be maintained between sampling times to ensure that the quality is maintained until the user needs it. The materials that make up the lab water system and are in contact with the water are carefully selected to guarantee minimum release of both ionic and organic contaminants.