Rethinking UV technology: eliminating mercury from water purification
26.02.26
A critical sustainability challenge in laboratory water purification is the continued reliance on mercury-based UV lamps. While historically effective, mercury is now recognised as a persistent and hazardous substance subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny.
International agreements such as the UN Minamata Convention aim to progressively restrict and eliminate mercury use, creating long-term compliance, disposal and safety challenges for laboratories.
The PURELAB® Chorus Mercury Free, from Veolia, addresses these concerns by replacing traditional mercury lamps with xenon excimer UV technology.
This mercury-free approach provides:
- Complete elimination of mercury from the system
- UV-C emission at 172 nm for effective TOC reduction
- Lamp lifetime of up to 5 years, compared with 12–18 months for mercury lamps
- Instant start-up, improved control of UV emissions and enhanced operator safety
- Simplified end-of-life handling and reduced environmental risk
By removing mercury entirely, laboratories reduce regulatory exposure while maintaining the water quality required for sensitive applications.
