Quartz Water Still

What is the Quartz Water Still?

A quartz water still uses a quartz boiler and condenser to avoid releasing ions and trace metals from the vessel. It is used for the highest-purity distilled water in sensitive trace analysis.

Overview

The quartz still is built from fused quartz, or quartz for the hot surfaces and borosilicate glass or PTFE for the cooler parts, so that no metal contacts the boiling water. This is important for trace metal analysis, where even small releases of sodium, potassium, boron or silica from ordinary glass or steel would raise blank values. Conductivity can reach about 0.1 to 0.5 microsiemens per centimeter, and the distillate is low in metals and pyrogens. Output is usually modest, from 0.5 to 4 liters per hour, because quartz units are designed for quality rather than volume. Heating may be by an external infrared lamp or a resistance element outside the quartz, and a quartz baffle reduces carry-over. These stills are used for trace element standards, ultrapure reagent preparation and work where blanks must be minimized.

How does it work?

A distillation unit heats feed water to boiling in a boiler, and the steam rises through a column or baffle that separates entrained droplets carrying dissolved salts. The vapor then condenses on a cooled surface and is collected as distillate. Non-volatile ions, particles and pyrogens remain in the boiler, which is drained periodically, while volatile substances such as ammonia, carbon dioxide and some organics may carry over unless a baffle or a second stage traps them. Single-stage stills give conductivity of about 1 to 5 microsiemens per centimeter, and double-stage units reach lower values by distilling the distillate again. Typical components are the boiler with heating elements and level control, the condenser with cooling water or air, the baffle, and conductivity monitoring. Scale from hard water forms on the elements, so descaling is routine maintenance.

What are the key features?

• Fused quartz boiler with no metal contact
• Conductivity of about 0.1–0.5 µS/cm
• Low trace metals, including boron and silica
• External infrared or resistance heating
• Quartz baffle to reduce carry-over
• Output of 0.5–4 L/h for quality over volume

What are the technical specifications?

A typical quartz water still configuration offers output of 0.5–4 L/h, conductivity of 0.1–0.5 µS/cm, boiler material of Fused quartz, condenser material of Quartz or borosilicate glass, heating of External infrared or resistance and trace metals of Very low, no metal contact. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Quartz Water Still is used in trace element standards, ultrapure reagent preparation, low-blank analytical work, semiconductor and materials research and trace metal sample preparation. Across the wider Distillation Units class, laboratories also deploy it for reagent and buffer preparation, autoclave and sterilizer feed and microbiology media preparation.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 3696, CLSI GP40, USP <645>, IEC 61010-1 and ISO 9001. Certification candidates for this model are CE, ISO 9001 manufacturing and RoHS; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Feed the still with softened or pretreated water to slow scale formation, and descale on a regular schedule with a suitable acid. Do not let the boiler run dry; keep level controls and low-level cutouts in working order. Ensure adequate cooling water flow and temperature, because poor cooling reduces output and may allow vapor to escape. Drain the boiler concentrate regularly to prevent salt buildup, and never let it concentrate beyond the design limit. Clean the condenser and collection vessel to avoid re-contamination, and cover stored distillate. Follow IEC 61010-1 for electrical safety and local rules for hot water and steam. Record conductivity, output and descaling dates so quality and maintenance stay under control.

How do I select the right Quartz Water Still?

Choose a quartz still when trace metal blanks are critical and ordinary glass or steel contact is unacceptable. For general reagent water, a standard still is cheaper and faster. In the RFQ, state output, target trace metal limits and cooling availability.

How does it compare with other Distillation Units variants?

Begin with the required water quality and volume. Single-stage stills suit general reagent preparation and autoclave feed, while double-stage or quartz stills are chosen when very low conductivity and low pyrogen content are needed. Match output to daily demand, considering that a still runs continuously and needs cooling water unless it is air-cooled. Check the material of the boiler and condenser, since borosilicate glass, quartz and stainless steel differ in contamination and durability. Hard feed water increases scaling and maintenance, so consider softening or reverse osmosis pretreatment. Look for automatic level control, over-temperature protection and conductivity monitoring, and confirm whether the design allows easy descaling. Finally, compare energy and cooling water consumption, because distillation has the highest operating cost of the common purification methods.