This section provides an overview for ultrapure water systems as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 16 ultrapure water system manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked ultrapure water system companies as of November, 2024: 1.RephiLe Bioscience Ltd., 2.Biosan, 3.Avidity Science.
Table of Contents
An ultrapure water system is a device that produces ultrapure water. Natural water and tap water contain various salts and organic matter and are not ultrapure. In research and development, these impurities are likely to affect the results of experiments. In the manufacturing industry, impurities in water can affect product quality. Therefore, in these fields, ultrapure water from which impurities have been removed is used.
Among pure water, ultrapure water is the one with the highest degree of purity. Water purity is measured based on electrical resistivity. Theoretical purity of water is 18.24 MΩ-cm. In common parlance, ultrapure water is water that has achieved 18 MΩ-cm.
Ultrapure water is used in the research and development field and in semiconductor manufacturing. In the research and development field, it is often used in biotechnology experiments and clinical trials of pharmaceuticals. In the semiconductor manufacturing industry, it is used for cleaning semiconductor parts and precision equipment.
However, ultrapure water cannot be stored in glass containers or polyethylene tanks. This is because its dissolving capacity is much higher than that of tap water and dissolves containers in minute quantities. Therefore, ultrapure water is produced by an Ultrapure Water System and used only when necessary and in necessary quantities.
Ultrapure water systems purify tap water to produce ultrapure water. In this section, the principle is explained using a reverse osmosis membrane + ion exchange pure water device as an example. This system uses the three steps of filtration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange to produce an ultrapure water system.
Powdered activated carbon filters filter out impurities such as residual chlorine and large debris in the tap water.
Filtered tap water is purified by reverse osmosis. Normally, when aqueous solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane, water molecules move from the solution of lower concentration to the solution of higher concentration. This is called osmosis.
As water molecules move, a force called osmotic pressure is generated, which eventually reaches equilibrium with the gravitational force on the volume of water moved. In contrast, when a pressure higher than the osmotic pressure is applied, water molecules can be moved from an aqueous solution of higher concentration to aqueous solution of lower concentration. This phenomenon is called reverse osmosis.
In an ultrapure water system, high pressure is applied to tap water to transfer water molecules that do not contain impurities to produce pure water. An osmosis membrane that can purify water molecules by this reverse osmosis phenomenon is called a reverse osmosis membrane. The water purified here is already pure enough to be called pure water.
The aforementioned inorganic ions contained in trace amounts in pure water are removed by ion exchange. Ion exchange is a method of improving purity through the use of ion exchange resins. Pure water produced by reverse osmosis contains trace amounts of calcium and chlorine ions. By filtering this pure water through an ion exchange resin, the impurity ions are adsorbed by the resin and become ultrapure water.
This is the main principle of the ultrapure water system. Ultrapure water systems are also available that include a UV sterilization system after the ion exchange is completed. There are also various types of products that reuse ion exchange membranes or distill tap water.
An ultrapure water system is used in the cleaning process of semiconductor devices, as mentioned above. If the cleaning water contains microscopic impurities, there is a risk of short-circuiting the circuit. Therefore, the ultrapure water system is an essential part of semiconductor manufacturing technology.
Other uses include water for steam generators in steam turbine generators and water for humidification in factories.
The ultrapure water system is a delicate device, and there are several precautions that must be taken in order to obtain high-purity ultrapure water. As a general rule, water should be collected on an as-needed basis, and the initial flow of water should be drained. This is because there is a risk of contamination of the area around the water sampling port by outside air. To prevent contamination from the environment, it is also necessary to keep the water sampling port clean and to avoid bubbling when sampling.
Ultrapure water is also known as hungry water. The name is derived from its ability to take in substances. Because of this property, its electrical resistivity decreases over time. Therefore, ultrapure water should be used as soon as possible after collection.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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DuPont de Nemours, Inc., commonly shortened to DuPont, is an American multinational chemical manufacturer headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, and established in 1802. The company offers adhesives and coatings for electronic components, commercial inkjet inks for printing solutions, surfacing materials and insulating foam sealants for building constructions, chromatography resins for protein purification, as well as lubricants and fluids for various electronic component applications. They also provide specialty enzymes and proteins for food production, thermal management materials, and microbial control products for industrial hygiene. DuPont serves various industries, including automotive, building and construction, energy, packaging and printing, as well as water management.
Smith & Loveless Inc., founded in 1946 and headquartered in Kansas City, is a manufacturer of water and wastewater treatment solutions. The company specializes in the design and production of pumping systems, grit removal equipment, and membrane bioreactor systems. It caters to municipalities, industries, and utilities globally, ensuring efficient water management. The company's products are known for its technology and adherence to rigorous ISO standards. It also ensures customer satisfaction by offering after-sales service and technical support to meet diverse project requirements.
3M Company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3M provides diversified technology services globally. 3M operates through four segments: Safety and Industrial, Transportation and Electronics, Health Care, and Consumer. The Safety and Industrial segment offerings include industrial abrasives, masking, and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles. The Transportation and Electronics segment offerings include ceramic solutions, light management films, and electronics assembly solutions. The Healthcare segment offerings include wound care, dentistry and orthodontia solutions, and filtration and purification systems. The Consumer segment offerings include consumer bandages, picture hanging, and stationery products.
ELGA LabWater, the brand name of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies and a subsidiary of Veolia Water UK Limited, is a British manufacturer, founded in 1937 and headquartered in Lane End, High Wycombe, specializing in water purification solutions. The company develops clinical and laboratory water purification systems under the MEDICA and PURELAB brands. Additionally, the company offers modular water purification and distribution systems under the CENTRA brand. It also caters to specific applications with water purification systems, including BIOPURE for healthcare applications and PURENERGY 30 for mission-critical purposes. These purification solutions find laboratory applications, for example in atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) research.
Mar-Cor Purification is based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA, and is a manufacturer of water disinfection and purification products that was established in 1971 before being acquired by Evoqua Water Technologies. The company’s product lineup includes ultraviolet disinfection systems, deionization systems, and reverse osmosis systems for water purification. It also offers water quality controllers and monitors for use in processing plants or facilities. The company’s products are mainly used in the water and wastewater and power generation industry.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., founded in 1956 and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer and supplier of life science solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, laboratory products, and biopharma services. Through its brand names, including Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Patheon, Applied Biosystems, and Gibco, among others, the company provides a wide range of products, which include chromatography systems, thermal cyclers, automated cell counters, fermenters, and DNA polymerases. The company’s annual revenue is over 40 billion USD, and it serves several fields, including customers working in clinical diagnostic labs, research institutions, hospitals, government agencies, and pharmaceutical/biotech companies.
Avidity Science, established in 1969, is a manufacturer and supplier of water purification systems and scientific & agricultural products based in Waterford, Wisconsin They offer water purification equipment such as RO water systems, DI water systems, ultrapure water systems, and water filtration & treatment equipment such as chlorine injection stations, filter bank stations, and sanitizers. They also offer agricultural products, lab animal watering, and monitoring equipment. Their products are available in brands such as Edstrom, Hydropac, BMDS, and WatchDogEX and are used in pharmaceutical, academia, biotechnology, healthcare, life science, and vivarium industries.
Technical Safety Services LLC., founded in Berkeley, CA, in 1970 is a provider of Testing, Certification, Calibration and Environmental Services in the Life Sciences & Healthcare Marketplace. The company offers Microbiological Services, Laboratory Equipment Calibration, Purity Water Services Pharmacy Compliance Services and GMP Documentation Services. It serves markets such as pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare, academic research and food production facilities throughout North America and around the world. The company has an ISO 9001 certified quality system and a nationwide network of Technical Safety Services.
Biosan is a manufacturer of advanced laboratory equipment and solutions for life science research. The company is located in United Kingdom and is founded in 1993. The company offers a diverse range of products which include centrifuges, shakers, incubators, and other lab essentials. These cutting-edge instruments cater to various fields such as molecular biology, microbiology, and cell culture. The company plays a crucial role in advancement of scientific discovery and facilitating breakthroughs in medical and biological research.
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
Sartorius AG was founded in 1870 and specializes in lab products and bioprocess solutions. The company has its headquarters in Gottingen, Germany with locations in major biopharma markets including the Americas and Asia Pacific. Sartorius' range of solutions includes instruments, consumables, and services for chemical, food, biopharmaceutical, and academic laboratories. The company offers automated bioreactors and fermenters, a portfolio of cell culture media, and a range of laboratory essentials such as balances and filtration devices. The company also offers regular preventive maintenance services.
Graver Water Systems is based in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, and is a manufacturer and supplier of water treatment equipment that was established in 1934 as a division of Graver Tank & Manufacturing Co. The company’s product lineup includes boiler feedwater systems for treating war water for use in industrial boilers or power plants, condensate polishing systems for removing impurities from condensate in chemical or refining processes, and produced water systems for treating water byproducts from gas or oil wells. The company is ISO 9001:2015-certified, and mainly serves clients in industrial processing operations.
LabX, founded in 1995, is a supplier and buyer of new, refurbished, and used lab, electronic testing, scientific, medical, and process equipment. The equipment includes autoclaves & sterilizers, lab freezers, mass spectrometers, centrifuges, and balances for application in antibodies & reagents, bioprocess equipment, food testing, neuroscience, and materials science. The company, headquartered in Midland, Ontario, is a marketplace for areas such as analytical & lids science, clinical laboratory, semiconductor, and industrial processing. The company offers decision-making help to customers selling products and equipment shopping guides to buyers.
RephiLe Bioscience Ltd., founded in Boston, MA, in 2007 is a supplier of lab water systems and consumables, and other filtration and purification related consumables. The company's product portfolio includes bench top large systems to feed into clinical analyzers, hospital labs, and central labs, Lab Water Purification Systems, Replacement consumables for Millipore Water Systems and Laboratory Filtration Products. The company has distributors in 70+ countries and regions and has offices in China, the US, France, Greece, Argentina, Korea and Japan.
Scalewatcher North America Inc., founded in 1989 and headquartered in Oxford, Pennsylvania, is a manufacturer and supplier of electronic water conditioners. The company’s product portfolio includes electronic hard water treatment systems, radiator protection systems, and industrial electronic water conditioners. These products are used in various sectors, including commercial buildings, agriculture, and the food and beverage industry. The company offers services including technical support and training on the use and maintenance of its electronic water conditioners. With offices globally in various countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and the Netherlands.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | RephiLe Bioscience Ltd. |
15.6%
|
2 | Biosan |
10.3%
|
3 | Avidity Science |
9.1%
|
4 | LabX |
8.4%
|
5 | Technical Safety Services LLC. |
8.0%
|
6 | Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. |
7.2%
|
7 | Sartorius AG |
6.9%
|
8 | Merck |
6.3%
|
9 | ELGA LabWater. |
5.9%
|
10 | Smith & Loveless Inc. |
4.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the ultrapure water system page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 8 | 72.7% |
Japan | 1 | 9.1% |
Germany | 1 | 9.1% |
Canada | 1 | 9.1% |