Guru
Introduction
Water is essential for life. Moreover, it supports the survival of all living beings. Furthermore, it plays a vital role in many industrial activities. In industrial settings, its quality determines overall efficiency. In addition, its chemical properties influence environmental impact. For example, water directly affects operational performance in manufacturing. Similarly, it plays a key role in energy production. Therefore, understanding its role becomes crucial. As a result, industries depend on proper water management. Consequently, they can optimize performance and improve long-term sustainability. Finally, this blog explores its influence, examines its origins, and explains the importance of water hardness in industrial environments.
Water is the basic necessity of life. Moreover, it is essential for the survival of all living beings. In fact, it covers approximately 80% of the Earth’s surface. However, only about 1% of the total water remains readily available for use. Therefore, this limited portion must support domestic, agricultural, municipal, and industrial needs. As a result, efficient management becomes increasingly important. Furthermore, sustainable practices are necessary. Consequently, water availability remains a growing concern. Finally, as populations grow and climates change, these challenges will likely intensify.
Source of water
Types of impurities found in water
(1) Dissolved impurities
(2) Suspended impurities
(3) Dissolved impurities
(4) Bacterial impurities
| Purpose | Specifications and Remark |
|---|---|
| Paper Industry | (a) Free from alkalinity (alkaline water consumes more alum, thereby increasing the cost of production). |
| (b) Free from hardness: (Calcium and magnesium salts increase the ash content of the paper produced). |
|
| (c) Free from colour, turbidity and salts of Fe and Mn : (colour and brightness of the paper are affected by the above impurities). |
|
| (d) Free from Silica : (Silica causes cracks in the paper). | |
| Textile industry | (a) Free from turbidity : (turbidity causes uneven dyeing). |
| (b) Free from colour, and salts of Fe and Mn : (these impurities cause stains on the fabric). |
|
| (c) Free from hardness and organic matter : (Hard water reduces the solubility of acidic dyes and causes precipitation of basic dyes. They also render the dyeing non-uniform. Organic matter may cause foul smell of the product). |
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| Thermal Power Generation industry | (a) Boiler feed Water : Free from hardness : (hard water causes scaleformation on boiler metal surface, thereby reducing heat transfer efficiency and causing shut-down or even accidents). |
| (b) Cooling water : The water should be non-scale forming, non-corrosive, and should not permit the growth of algae. Scale and algae reduce the heat transfer efficiency and interfere with free flow of water. |
|
| Dairy industry | The water should be colourless, odourless, and tasteless. It should be free from pathogenic organisms. |
| Beverage industry | The water should be pure. It should not be alkaline, because alkalinity in water tends to neutralise the fruit acids and distorts the taste. |
| Laundry | The water should be free from colour, hardness and salts of Fe and Mn : (Hardness of water increases the consumption of soaps and detergents. Fe and Mn salts impart undesirable colour to the fabric. |
| Ice making, brewing, canning and distillery industry | Free from hardness and bacteria. |
Hardness of water
The waters which do not produce lather or produces very little lather with soap are known as hard water. On the other hand soft waters readily produces a lot of lather when mixed with a little of soap. Therefore the study of hardness of water has great importance.
✷Hardness:Originally, hardness was defined as the soap-consuming capacity of a water sample. In fact, soaps generally consist of sodium salts of long-chain fatty acids. For example, these include oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. In most cases, the soap-consuming capacity of water results from calcium ions. Similarly, magnesium ions also contribute to this effect. Specifically, these ions react with the sodium salts present in soap. As a result, insoluble scums of calcium and magnesium soaps form. Consequently, these scums do not provide any detergent value. Therefore, water containing these ions is considered hard. Ultimately, this hardness reduces the effectiveness of soap.
`2C_{17}H_{35}COONa+CaCl_2rightarrowleft(C_{17}H_{35}COOright)_2Ca+2NaCl`
Soap (soluble)Calcium soap (insoluble) Other metal ions like `Fe^{+2}`, `Mn^{+2}` and `Al^{+3}` also react with the soap in the same fashion, thus contributing to hardness but generally these are present in natural waters only in traces. Further, acids such as carbonic acid can also cause free fatty acid to separate from soap solution and thus contribute to hardness. However, in practice, the hardness of a water sample is usually taken as a measure of its `Ca^{+2}` and `Mg^{+2}` content.
Degree of Hardness
Types of Hardness
(i) Temporary Hardness:
To begin with, temporary hardness arises from the presence of calcium bicarbonate. Similarly, it also results from magnesium bicarbonate. In fact, people commonly refer to this condition as carbonate hardness. Moreover, it is also known as alkaline hardness. In addition, this type of hardness disappears when water is boiled. When heated, these bicarbonates break down into insoluble compounds. As a result, carbonates or hydroxides are formed. Consequently, these compounds create visible precipitates. Afterward, the solids can be removed through filtration. Therefore, treating temporary hardness is relatively simple. In comparison, permanent hardness requires more complex treatment. Finally, understanding this process helps in selecting the appropriate water softening method.
`\left(C_aHC_o3\right)\rightarrow\left(\triangle C_aCO_3+H_2O+CO_2M_gHCO_{32}\right)\rightarrow\left(\triangle M_gOH_2\right)`
(ii) Permanent Hardness:
Specifically, this type of hardness occurs due to the presence of chlorides and sulphates of calcium, magnesium, iron, and other heavy metals such as Al₂(SO₄)₃. Consequently, it is also known as non-carbonate or non-alkaline hardness. In contrast, one cannot remove it by simply boiling the water, unlike temporary hardness. However, various chemical agents can effectively eliminate it.
Units of Hardness
1. Parts per million (ppm)
2. Milligrams per litre (mg/L)
3. Degree French (°Fr)
4. Degree Clark (°Cl)
Relationship among various units of hardness
Industrial Applications of Water
Water plays a central role across industries. Its use goes far beyond drinking and cleaning.
1.Power Generation
- Used to produce steam in thermal and nuclear power plants
- Drives turbines for electricity generation
- Used for cooling systems
2.Chemical Industry
- Acts as solvent and reaction medium
- Used in dilution and purification
- Essential in producing acids, alkalis, and salts
3.Construction Industry
- Used in mixing cement and concrete
- Essential for curing
- Controls dust at construction sites
4.Pharmaceutical Industry
- Used in drug formulation
- Cleaning and sterilization
- Production of distilled and purified water
5.Textile Industry
- Dyeing and washing fabrics
- Bleaching
- Steam production
6.Automotive & Metal Industries
- Cooling machinery
- Metal quenching
- Surface treatment and cleaning
Conclusion
Clearly, water is a crucial element in industrial processes, as it directly connects operations, efficiency, and environmental impact. In this regard, knowledge of water sources, quality, and hardness is essential for industries to prosper sustainably. Therefore, responsible water management practices are necessary to ensure a balance between industrial advancement and environmental conservation.