Hard Water: Can it Be Stopped?

Chelation is used to counteract hardness in the water, which is a term related to the concentration of multivalent cations in water. Hardness impairs the cleaning ability of a solution because the cleaning agent thinks that the hardness ions are actual contaminants. The chelating agents trap the hardness ions in a cage-like structure, which allows the cleaning agents, such as a detergent, to clean the actual contaminants. A chelate is a type of water conditioner which is used in process to take care of and control minerals, water hardness, and other factors concerning the fabric. Hard water causes many problems in things we deal with daily. It can make laundry seem harsh and scratchy, while causing spotting in dishes that have been washed. In the shower, hard water can leave a film on this skin that does not allow your soap to remove oil and bacteria. It also causes limescale and other grout in showers and bathtubs.

Basically, a sequestrant prevents the deposition of unsoluble salts such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and other metal ions. This is accomplished by forming a cage-like structure with the metals. With chelates, their main purpose is to trap metal ions. Some common chelates used are EDTA and DTPA, which are amino carboxylate structures. The cage-like structure is similar to that of a claw, which traps these metal ions. Once the structures are formed with the metal ions and chelates, the structure is reversible. The cage structure allows the metal ion to stay in solution, but not affect the cleaning ability of the detergent or other cleaning agent. The chelates will be useful for our project because the properties of chelation will allow us to develop a final product which will stop metal ions and contaminants from getting through the filtration system for the storm-water run off system.