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Water Treatment From Start to Finish
Worldwide pollution has rendered it nearly impossible to dip your hand into a pool of fresh water and enjoy a hand-full of water free of biological contaminants, chemicals, and suspended solids. Instead, our drinking water must be purified for our safety. The process of purification depends on the end result of the water: will it be used for drinking, within a hospital, for irrigation, or another use? Methods of purification include filtration, sedimentation, flocculation, ultraviolet light, and chlorination, to name a few. Chemical testing and treatment are the foremost methods of decontamination of pathogens, making water treatment chemical suppliers an important piece to the purification puzzle. The role, amount, and mixture of chemicals used to treat water are dependent upon the application, but a broad overview follows.
Calcium hydroxide: Used to increase the alkalinity of water to promote water hardness and buffering.
Carbon dioxide: Decreases water’s pH to allow for coagulation (flocculation).
Hydrated aluminum sulphate: This substance acts as a flocculant.
Ozone: Responsible for removing toxins, herbicides, pesticides, organic matter, and compounds affecting taste and odor.
Polyaluminum chloride: Aids in flocculation.
Polyelectrolyte: Also aids in flocculation.
Potassium permanganate: Removes iron and manganese.
Sodium hydroxide: Helps to increase the pH levels.
Sodium hypochlorite: Acts as a disinfectant.
Water purification is not limited to adding chemicals to our water supply. Other factors are necessary to bring us the life-giving properties of contaminant-free drinking water. Without these chemicals, provided by a water treatment chemical supplier, the process would take much longer at a significant increase in expense.
If you’re look for a water treatment chemical supplier in the Central Florida area, contact Bell Chem today at 407-339-BELL (2355). We’re more than happy to present you with additional information on water treatment chemicals and direct you to the products that suit your needs.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Traditionally, drinking water is treated with chlorine to control bacteria and other pollutants. However, it has been proven that chlorine causes many difficulties in the human body, such as severe chemical burns from direct contact or lung irritation from breathing in chlorine gases. What if another water treatment chemical option existed to treat water--something with the same result as chlorine, but without the harmful side effects? The answer may be as close as your home’s medicine cabinet: hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is not a caustic acid like chlorine. For this reason, using hydrogen peroxide in a water treatment system is considered better for the environment as well as for the population served by the water treatment facility. Rather than the harmful chlorinate hydrocarbons and salt residuals remaining from chlorine use, hydrogen peroxide effuses oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide’s oxidation process is advantageous in finding and destroying bacteria in water. Once added as a water treatment chemical, hydrogen peroxide biodegrades into oxygen and water, leaving nothing detrimental to the environment.
While the initial cost of hydrogen peroxide exceeds that of chlorine in the same concentration, hydrogen peroxide works more quickly to rid water of contaminants, or can be diluted for the same results as chlorine. Considering hydrogen peroxide is safer to handle, far superior in its effects on the environment, produces natural and safe waste products, and works more quickly to clean water in many instances, it may be time to invest in hydrogen peroxide for water treatment.
If you’re looking to purchase hydrogen peroxide or any other water treatment chemicals, contact Bell Chem today at 407-339-BELL (2355). We’re the leading water treatment chemical supplier in the Central Florida area and we’re more than happy to help you with your chemical needs.
Glycerin
Also known as glycerol, glycerin is a natural compound produced from a vegetable oil and other products or synthesized from propylene alcohol. Glycerin is a beauty care chemical that is added to many skin care products because it is well tolerated by the body and gives skin a healthy, natural appearance. Glycerin’s benefits are far-reaching, and its medicinal properties not only make the skin appear healthy, but actually improves the skin’s overall health.
If you have ever suffered psoriasis, you know the itching, flaking skin associated with this disorder is irritating, embarrassing, and painful. Psoriasis occurs because the outermost layers of epidermal cells are shed before they mature, causing thick, scaly patches that flake away with the slightest touch. According to research, applying glycerin to psoriasis signals the cells within the psoriasis patches to mature normally, which gives the skin a more even appearance without the blemishes associated with psoriasis.
Being a humectant, glycerin attracts moisture to the epidermis. When this beauty care chemical is applied to the surface of the skin, glycerin seals in moisture to maintain water homeostasis within the body’s cells. Not only is the skin sealed, glycerin also increases the thickness of the corneocytes, or the outermost layer of skin, relieving extremely dry skin and forming a stronger protective barrier between the body and the external environment. Glycerin also assists in soothing and curing bruised or swollen skin. The softness noted with glycerin use is due to the degradation of the corneodesmosomes that link together skin cells. When these links are broken, cells are shed in a more uniform fashion, which leaves the skin more smooth and even.
Given these examples, it’s no wonder glycerin is used in mouthwash, toothpaste, bar soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, hair care products, and shower gels. If you have not already tried glycerin, now is the ultimate time to benefit from this beauty care chemical’s myriad of uses.
For additional information on glycerine, or other beauty care chemicals, contact the professionals at Bell Chem today.
Oils
Many people are turning to oils to complement their current beauty care regimen, and for good reason. Oils are natural, easy to use, and give superior results. Depending on your needs, a range of oil-based beauty care chemicals is undoubtedly available for you. Eucalyptus oil, for instance, is an ingredient in perfumes, fragrances, and lotions. Garlic oil treats acne. Coconut oil has become a leading oil for hair and skin treatments; argan oil works as an overnight deep conditioner for your hair; and tea tree oil has gained recognition as somewhat of a panacea.
Below are five oil-based beauty care chemicals and a few of their many properties and uses.
Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is an antifungal. It removes residue on the scalp and frees clogged pores. Hair follicles are stimulated by eucalyptus oil, giving you stronger, thicker, shinier, and healthier hair. Mix eucalyptus oil with vinegar and water to relieve your itchy scalp. Eucalyptus oil kills staphylococcus bacteria, which causes halitosis and other oral problems. Use this oil as a mouthwash to freshen and clean your mouth.
Garlic Oil: Garlic seems an odd answer to athlete’s foot, but garlic oil is an antifungal and anti-inflammatory. Use garlic oil to treat acne, cold sores, and psoriasis as well.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a wonder at removing makeup, including waterproof mascara, leaving the skin clean and moisturized. Used as a body moisturizer, coconut oil expedites wound healing, increases hydration, and reduces water loss in extremely dry skin. Lips also benefit from coconut oil as a balm. Other uses include as a shaving cream, to soothe dry and cracked hands, as a highlighter over makeup, and as an excellent deep conditioner since it penetrates hair follicles and prevents loss of protein.
Argan Oil: Argan oil works as a deep conditioner and overnight hair treatment to leave hair soft and full. On your skin, argan oil is a superb moisturizer and counters the effects of acne. Use on wet skin as a body lotion to leave your skin silky without feeling greasy. On the cuticles, argan oil enhances the health and appearance of fingernails and the nail bed.
Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is an astringent mouthwash that combats halitosis while invigorating the gums. On the face, tea tree oil works as a makeup remover, exfoliator, acne prevention and curative, and toner.
These oils and a variety of others are changing the way we treat our skin. Try one or more today to improve the appearance of your skin, nails, and hair. If you’re looking for a reliable beauty care chemical supplier, look no further than Bell Chem. For additional information, contact us today.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Somewhere, lurking in the depths of your medicine cabinet, you probably own a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. This innocuous little bottle, generally referred to as “rubbing alcohol,” is commonly used as a quick disinfectant and antiseptic. However, its uses extend far beyond these; in fact, the cosmetics and personal care industries utilize its abilities in hundreds--if not thousands--of products, including eye and skin makeup, bath products, lotions, aftershave, deodorant, hair products, and health care products.
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, has several characteristics chemists find work well in makeup and health care merchandise. One of these properties is its ability to dissolve other substances and increase liquidity--quite helpful with heavier ingredients that may tend to clump together. Added to liquid soaps, it reduces the tendency to produce foam when the container is shaken. Isopropyl alcohol cools and soothes irritated skin, and removes oil from the skin’s surface--and, as mentioned previously, this miraculous product is also an antiseptic.
Many acne medications contain isopropyl alcohol because it removes oil, dries the skin, and kills acne-causing bacteria on and beneath the epidermis. When used with tea tree oil or clove oil, isopropyl alcohol has the ability to deter acne while replenishing your skin’s moisture. Clinicians use isopropyl alcohol to cleanse a patient’s ears before they are pierced, then the patient uses the same product to clean their earrings, which helps to prevent infection. As a rubefacient, any abrasion is easily treated with isopropyl alcohol to relieve pain. If your fingernail polish is cracked and you are unable to find your nail polish remover, isopropyl alcohol will remove the polish without any difficulty.
Many hair products contain small amounts of isopropanol because of its previously mentioned ability to liquefy heavy elements. It also increases the absorption rate of chemicals at the hair’s follicle, which is a benefit when using a hair coloring treatment, for instance. Hairsprays regularly contain isopropyl alcohol because it dries quickly without the use of heat. Imagine applying hairspray and using a hair dryer to expedite its hold and you will understand yet another benefit of isopropanol.
For additional information on isopropyl alcohol, or other beauty care chemicals, contact the professionals at Bell Chem today.
Salicylic Acid in Facial Care Products
When a product contains the word “acid” in its nomenclature, most people conjure images of dangerous chemicals with corrosive properties--a strong acid. Salicylic acid does not fit into that category. This mild acid was originally derived from the bark of a willow tree and is considered a natural plant hormone. Nowadays salicylic acid is manufactured in a laboratory with more exact measurements and fewer variables. With myriad uses, salicylic acid has also proven to be a leader in facial care products; in fact, more than 100 facial products contain salicylic acid. What is it that gives beauty care chemicals, like salicylic acid, an edge over other facial care products?
Salicylic acid works as a keratolytic, or a substance that aids in the softening and shedding of the outer layer of skin. Once keratolysis occurs, the underlying skin is exposed, giving the user a more even, smooth skin surface. As a bacteriostatic, salicylic acid prevents bacteria from reproducing and disrupting skin function. Lastly, the comedolytic action of salicylic acid breaks up or destroys comedones (clogged hair follicles). These clogged hair follicles also produce an inflammatory response, and the beauty care chemical, salicylic acid, calms this response so the skin no longer appears puffy. With acne, the exfoliation experienced from using products containing salicylic acid will likewise remove many comedones. Even after application, salicylic acid works to decrease the diameter of pores, preventing new bacteria from entering.
Along with acne products, salicylic acid is also used to prevent or reduce the effects of seborrhoeic dermatitis (affecting the areas containing sebaceous glands in the epidermis), psoriasis, acanthosis nigricans (skin discolorations), ichthyosis (dry, flaky, thickened, or scaly skin), calluses, warts, and other skin care problems. It is also used in dandruff shampoos or other shampoos that treat dermatologic difficulties.
Because the properties of salicylic acid have been proven over centuries, its use is considered safe and effective. Everyday use is acceptable and often recommended for many skin afflictions. The benefit of an anti-inflammatory component allows only one medication to treat multiple symptoms, which elevates salicylic acid above many other facial care products.
If you’re looking to purchase this beauty care chemical, or require additional information, contact Bell Chem today at 407-339-BELL (2355). We’re more than happy to assist you in any way we can. Also, check your beauty care products’ labels and share this post if your favorite products are made with salicylic acid. Tell us about the product and whether you like it!
Can I Use Acid to Wash My Clothes?
Acid washing sounds like a clever idea teenagers used in the 1980s to transform dark jeans into a hue as close to white as possible. However, acid washing is far more common than that. As a matter of fact, each time you add bleach to your wash, you are applying acid to clean and sanitize your laundry. Commonly sold by sanitation chemical suppliers, acids are defined as chemicals with a pH below 7. In detergents, an acid will register below pH 3.
Many biological substances, such as bacteria, live in a narrow pH zone that lingers around neutral (pH 7). By creating an acidic environment (below pH 7), most forms of bacteria can no longer survive. Acid detergents operate by penetrating the cellular membrane of bacteria or fungi where they manipulate an enzyme specific to these life forms. The same acid detergents are not harmful to humans because the enzymes the acids attack are not present in humans. Acid detergents, therefore, are superior anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents.
The other advantage of washing with acids is stain removal. One example of an acid widely used in laundering is boric acid. Boric acid may be used as a stain remover or as a bleaching agent. This versatile acid will remove blood, dark juices and wine, chocolate, and many varieties of soil. Another acid that is not as well known as boric acid, but is still provided by a sanitation chemical supplier, is oxalic acid, which works as a stain and rust remover on many surfaces, including fabrics. While many laundry products contain oxalic acid, fabric and water softeners often contain another acid, phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid removes calcium and magnesium ions from water to keep the ions from forming deposits that adhere to fabrics. White vinegar’s chemical nomenclature is acetic acid. Acetic acid is a stain remover for natural fabrics such as silk, cotton, wool, or linen.
In summary, many acids are available and have been used for decades, if not centuries, for dozens of laundry situations. Do you use acid when washing your clothes? Share this post and tell us about your chemical tricks when doing laundry. For additional information, contact Bell Chem, the Orlando sanitation chemical supplier. We’re available to assist in any way possible.
The Many Faces of Corrosion Inhibitors
Yesterday I noted with sadness the demise of one of our feeding bowls. We bought the bowl believing it was treated with a corrosion inhibitor, but the evident rust inside and out from holding mineral salts proved otherwise. Corrosion destroys or impedes the operation of many simple and complex machines, and, for this reason, corrosion inhibitors have become specialized in their uses.
Corrosion is defined as the gradual destruction of metals or other materials by a chemical reaction. Provided by water treatment chemical supplier, corrosion inhibitors adhere to the surface of metals to create a film between the metal and the surrounding environment and impede chemical reactivity. To inhibit corrosion, five specific methods have been used with success.
Passivators Inhibitors: Passivators, or passivity inhibitors, reduce the ionic charge of the metal they protect to a more stable molecular structure. When the metal becomes less charged and more passive, it is less reactive to outside chemical changes. The most common passivators are oxidizing agents.
Cathodic Inhibitors: Cathodic inhibitors reduce hydrogen’s loss as well as its ability to recombine with external molecules, thereby “sealing” metals.
Organic Inhibitors: Organic inhibitors form a hydrophobic (water fearing) film on the surface of metals. Organic inhibitors containing both nitrogen and sulfur promote better bonding and are recommended; weaker bonds are formed when other molecules are used and the underlying metal is not sealed as well.
Precipitation Inducing Inhibitors: Precipitation inducing inhibitors cause a precipitate, or a solid, to form via a chemical reaction. This precipitate amalgamates with the metal to form a protective barrier.
Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors: Volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs) are a unique corrosion inhibitor, to say the least. VCIs emit a vapor that contains nitrogen. While one side of the nitrogen bonds to the polar metal surface, the other hydrophobic side points externally and repels water. The distinct difference between VCIs and other corrosion inhibitors is its ability to evaporate and redeposit molecules to evenly coat the entire surface of a metal object. This also causes VCIs to be self-healing: any surface that is marred or scratched will heal by the redistribution of existing VCI coating.
Depending on the type of metal and your individual requirements, one of the above choices of corrosion inhibitors is sure to meet the needs of your corrosion control. If you’re looking to purchase corrosion inhibitors, or require more information, contact Bell Chem at 407-339-BELL (2355). We’re a professional water treatment chemical supplier in Central Florida and we’re happy to help with you next order.
How have corrosion inhibitors helped you? Share this post and tell us which method of inhibitor you have experience with.
The Many Things That Can Be Cleaned With D-Limonene
Unless you’re a chemical supplier in Florida, chances are you have not heard of the product D-Limonene. However, there is a significant chance that you have used several products containing D-Limonene, without knowing it. The citrusy smell of D-Limonene emanates from its source: citrus rind. As the rind’s juice and oil are separated, the oil is distilled to produce D-Limonene.
Once it is distilled and purified, D-Limonene is off and running with a lengthy list of uses. You may find D-Limonene as a degreaser, within plastics, in paint solids, as a fragrance, and as a cleaner. Inside the house, you can use D-Limonene to clean hard surfaces such as your kitchen counter, to remove stains and chewing gum in your carpet, in the bathroom to clean the floor and bathtub, to clean electronics, as a pre-wash in the laundry room, to clean the windows in every room, and to remove the sticky backing from the Cinderella sticker your daughter affixed to the center of your new refrigerator. When you have completed all your interior cleaning projects, D-Limonene is a refreshing way to clean your hands, leaving them with a clean, fresh smell.
Outside, D-Limonene leaves your car shining like new by removing tar, shining the wheels, and cleaning the engine and other intricate parts under the hood. It also excels at cleaning tools in the garage and removes tar, grease, and oil spots from the cement floor. If you need to clean your tools, workbench, and machinery, rely on D-Limonene. The boat in your driveway will also benefit from D-Limonene’s gentle cleansing power. For the house and yard, it has also been noted that D-Limonene has insecticidal propensities.
Chemical suppliers in Florida also provide D-Limonene to commercial establishments because of its ability to effectively cleans concrete floors; removes asbestos shingles; degreases all types of engines--aircraft, automotive, and aerospace; maintains the cleanliness of grease traps by removing oil and grease buildup; cleans, degreases, and deodorizes lift stations and sewage treatment plants; removes tile and tar; cleans printing presses; shines metal; and removes the graffiti from outside the office building.
The pharmaceutical industry has found D-Limonene to be effective in the battle against cancer and AIDS, and the cosmetic industry adds D-Limonene to products for its citrus smell, as an aerosol ingredient, and for its oil- and grease-eradicating properties.
It seems the list of D-Limonene duties is extensive, but it may be only the beginning. New methods of using this miraculous product are being discovered daily. For additional information on this versatile and efficient chemical, contact Bell Chem, your trusted chemical supplier in Florida today.
Cleaning With All-Natural Alkaline Cleaners
A cleaning agent is one that removes dirt and odors from hard or soft surfaces. While many cleaning agents contain antiseptic or antibacterial properties, not all do. Adding an alkaline, or strong base, such as potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide (NH3, or household ammonia) or sodium hydroxide, to a cleaning agent enhances the cleaning agent’s ability to dissolve grease, fat, oil, and stains containing a protein component. The last component of this topic--the “all-natural” portion--is on the minds of millions of consumers recently. But what do we mean when we mention an all-natural alkaline cleaner, produced and distributed by a sanitation chemical supplier?
Because ammonia is readily available in grocery stores and considered completely safe for household use, it is a commonly used natural alkaline cleaner. Adding ammonia to water creates ammonium hydroxide, an all-purpose cleaner noted for its streak-free shine. The ability to clean without leaving any residue gives ammonium hydroxide top billing in cleaning and shining glass, stainless steel, or other smooth, glossy finishes. Ammonium hydroxide is also strongly antiseptic, another characteristic sanitation chemical suppliers and consumers appreciate.
Another natural alkaline cleaner is sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), commonly known as washing soda or soda ash. Closely resembling sodium carbonate is baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Both these alkaline cleaners are excellent silver cleaners as they work with aluminum foil by removing the aluminum oxide molecules from the foil to bind hydrogen with the sulfide on the tarnished silver, thereby renewing its shine. Washing soda is also a common water softener in laundry detergents. Because it is an alkaline, sodium carbonate removes many of the everyday spills on our clothes, such as grease and oil. The list of cleaning uses for sodium bicarbonate is long and varied, and includes cleaning brushes, teeth, hands, fiberglass, bathtubs and sinks, pots and pans, coffeepots and cups with coffee and tea stains, floors, furniture, et cetera. Almost any surface with grime, oil, or a grease build-up will sparkle when baking soda cleans it.
Finding a naturally occurring proven cleaner with a pH level greater than pH 7 will provide you with an all-natural alkaline cleaner with myriad uses that does not damage the environment or the individuals using it. Contact Bell Chem, your Orlando sanitation chemical supplier, for additional information on all-natural alkaline cleaners.