Remove ions in water and you come up with deionized water. But that is easier said than done for the process of deionization is intricate. Regardless of the intricacy of the whole procedure, deionization can be a demanding technique that its results must be preserved one way or another. To do this, storage procedures for this kind of water must be as strict as the purification process. This can only be achieved by thorough inspection of the materials being used.

Let us consider the chemical and physical nature of water devoid of ions. Water normally gets ionized. It is impossible to obtain water that is pure from normal sources. Impurities are always there and this is due to the fact that this liquid is a natural solvent, dissolving anything from ionic salts to organic compounds. The challenge for industries and manufacturers is to remove as much impurity as necessary. This is when purification is called in. An important aspect of this procedure is deionization, a process that leads to water that is extremely pure and devoid of ionic components. Nevertheless, when water is left standing for long and contained within the inappropriate container, it could easily get re-ionized.

Any deionized water supplier warns that water which has no ions is aggressive. Its dissolving power is much greater than plain water. It readily takes and captures ions and all other solutes much more effectively than does ordinary water. Without careful storage systems, this water could suddenly lose all its pure quality.

There are a few materials that do not react with (deionized) DI water, which needs relatively non-reactive, compatible materials to tame its corrosive nature. Yes, indeed, water with no ions is corrosive.

One of the few materials that are compatible with DI water is stainless steel, a corrosion resistant alloy that is largely iron with some carbon, chromium, nickel, nitrogen, and molybdenum. Most utensils and instruments are made of stainless steel because of its durability and resistance to chemicals. When it gets in contact with DI water, stainless steel withstands corrosion.

Containers with tin-plating also withstand the corrosive properties of ultra pure water. This is why they are often used as containing vessels for various types of pure water. Glass is also opted because it is a neutral material. It does not contain compounds that leach into the water content although to some manufacturers glass containers are not the top choice. Although plastics with PVCs may be used, they are at times not considered as containers because of the high likelihood of leaching. Nonetheless, PVC is relatively neutral. It does not conduct electricity and is rather resistant to most chemicals.

Buy deionized water only at trusted companies and manufacturers. Check out the purification process and the equipment they use. In virtually all cases, the resin beds used as deionizers should be maintained, recharged, or replaced on a regular basis lest the quality of DI water would be affected.