Where do you find CO2 ? What is CO₂?

Why use CO₂ in water treatment?

The increasing strictness of legislation and higher frequency of inspections continue to increase the importance of environmental policies in the world of business. CO₂ water treatment is a very promising technique that offers a number of technical, environmental, and financial advantages.
CO₂ is a natural gas present in tiny concentrations in the atmosphere. When dissolved in water, it forms hydrogen carbonate, also known as carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). This weak acid is the only mineral acid present in natural waters. Carbonic acid reacts with water-based components and neutralises alcaline water.

Advantages of CO2:

Unlike strong, traditional acid treatments (H₂SO₄ and HCl), CO₂ offers a number of advantages:

1. It’s a natural product:

* Present in the atmosphere (0.035%) * No harmful effect on the water

2. Environmentally friendly:

* Non-toxic and non-corrosive (for people and for aquatic life) * Introduces no pollutants into the water * No excessive acidification of water (neutralisation curve stays horizontal -> no fluctuation in pH levels) * Neutralisation of CO₂ contributes to reduction in greenhouse effect (the CO₂, instead of being released, in used in the neutralisation process)

3. Smaller investment needed:

* Greater homogeneity in pH levels than with H₂SO₄, resulting in a more correct dose level * Ease of of installation maintenance: fewer deposits given that Na₂CO₃ &  CaCO₃ are more soluble in water and that CO₂ is a non-corrosive product * No special security measure required * No special equipment required given that CO₂ is a non-corrosive product, unlike strong acids.