https://www.researchgate.

net/post/What_is_the_difference_between_distilled_water_and_d
eionized_water_DI_water2

What is the difference between distilled water and

deionized water (DI water)?
What may be the difference in the pH of distilled water and deionized water? Does
deionized water have a greater pH value than distilled water?

9th Sep, 2013

Kenneth W. Pratt
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Deionizing systems use a mixture of cation and anion exchange resins (usually in a mixed
bed). These resins exchange cations and anions in the source water for H+ and OH-,
respectively. The H+ and OH- combine to form H2O, leaving only the residual H+ and OH-
produced by autodissociation (autoprotolysis), H2O = H+ + OH-; the equilibrium constant of
this reaction = 1 x 10^-14 at 25 °C. So the pH of deionized (DI) water is close to 7 **at
delivery** and the electrolytic conductivity is about 0.055 µS/cm (corresponds to resistivity
~18 MΩ cm, hence the - technically incorrect, as the units are incorrect - term "18 megohm"
water). However, this is true only if the DI water **has not** been in contact with
atmospheric CO2. If it is in equilibrium with atmospheric CO2, the conductivity is on the
order of 1 µS/cm (resistivity ~1 MΩ cm) and the pH is ~5,6 , both owing to dissociation of
the dissolved CO2 to H+ and HCO3-. DI (or any other CO2-free-) water avidly takes up
atmospheric CO2 and rapidly approaches the equilibrated values of pH and conductivity.
For this reason, conductivity sensors in DI systems are located immediately following the
last resin bed (column) and the water is continuously circulated, so that the conductivity
value is obtained before the water has a chance to take up any CO2.

Distillation relies on phase separation to eliminate the dissolved ions (which remain in the
pot). However, the steam is in contact with the atmosphere, and distilled water generally
has electrolytic conductivity and pH values simliar to those of DI water that has equilibrated
with the atmosphere (i.e., pH 5.6 and conductivity 1 µS/cm). Distillation systems can only
remove CO2 if elaborate measures are taken to avoid contact with the atmosphere (e.g.,
flushing with pure N2 and blanketing the product H2O with N2).

DI systems do not remove molecular species (e.g. sugar, most other organics) from the
product water. However, many commercial systems include an activated charcoal (or
similar) column that removes many organics. Distillation will remove nonvolatile molecular
species, but not volatile ones (they distill over with the steam).

Note that DI systems do not remove dissolved O2, as it is a molecular species.

The same dissociation reactions occur in both distilled and DI water. DI resins can "bleed"
organics, although many of these will be taken up by the activated charcoal.