Electrochemically activated water (ECHAW): history of discovery, specificity of the process, current state and prospects of its application under irrigation conditions

The history of the discovery, the specificity of the process and the current state of the use of electrochemically activated water (ECHAW) in various sectors of the economy are analyzed and the possibilities of its use in irrigation are determined. It has been established that the most promising area of ​​application of ECHAW in irrigated agriculture are drip irrigation systems. The adding an anolyte to water during drip irrigation can significantly reduce (or even eliminate) the need to use plant protection products and the adding an catholyte significantly accelerates the development and increases the yield of agricultural crops against the background of improving product quality. The ecological consequences of this are the reduction of anthropogenic load on irrigated lands through the complete or partial replacement of chemical plant protection products with anolyte, which is an environmentally safe liquid; economic - increasing profitability and reducing the payback period of land irrigation projects. It has been determined that the prospect of using ECHAW in drip irrigation systems is due to the fact that the water supply technology allows supplying catholyte and anolyte to the field with minimal losses of activation potential. A predisposing factor for the use of ECHAW in drip irrigation systems is also their design according to a modular principle, which contributes to the possibility of equipping water treatment units of systems with ECHAW modules. At the same time, the design of systems should be carried out taking into account not only the need to ensure uniform distribution of water by droppers over the field, but also with the preservation of the activation potential of electrochemically activated components of irrigation water. Based on the foregoing, it can be considered that the development of means of electrochemical activation of water for irrigation needs, as well as technologies for the use of such water in growing crops is relevant and timely. The deployment of fundamental and applied research will contribute to the development of domestic equipment for the industrial production of ECHAW and will allow adapting the world technologies of their use to the conditions and needs of the Ukrainian manufacturer and consumer. The use of electrochemically activated water in drip irrigation systems can be especially effective.

Impact of the electrochemical treatment on physical and chemical properties of water activated in various devices using electrochemical activation technology

Introduction. Currently, there are various technologies for water treatment and water purification, including ozonation of water, water treatment with UV radiation, ion exchange, magnetization. Electrochemical treatment of water by direct electric current, in which activated water is formed, characterized by many anomalous properties, is a modern approach to water treatment and water treatment. Purpose of the study. The study of the physicochemical properties of water-activated in devices of different manufacturers with different designs. Material and methods. To activate the water, activators were used: AP-1, Melesta, Zdrava, the filter of electrochemical water purification “ Izumrud”. The activity of hydrogen ions and the redox potential of water were measured using an Ecotest-120 ionomer with a switch. To measure the electrical conductivity of the solutions, an Expert-002 conductometer was used. Free chlorine was determined by the photocolorimetric method on a Spectroquant Multy colorimeter. Antioxidant activity was determined spectrophotometrically using a mediator system of potassium ferro-ferricyanide. Results. Chloride ions make a decisive contribution to the change in the physicochemical characteristics of anolyte upon activation of water. Sulfates and bicarbonates do not affect the prooxidant activity of the anolyte. The relaxation of catholytes obtained in membrane activators proceeds by a gradual increase in ORP, while the relaxation of activated water in the Zdrava diaphragmless activator proceeds in an oscillatory mode and is characterized by sharp changes in ORP. Anolytes are stable over time and slightly change the pH and ORP during storage. The activation of certain types of water in a diaphragmless activator does not lead to a decrease in the ORP, but its significant growth. Conclusion. Electrochemically activated water is a general term that hides in each case an unknown substance with an unpredictable effect. The use of standard devices even when using the same water sample, as a rule, leads to different physicochemical characteristics of activated water. When using different types of water, physicochemical characteristics differ significantly. The use of electrochemically activated water is unsafe.

Examination of Effect of Electrochemically Activated Water Solutions on Candida albicans After Different Periods of Storage

Studies to determine the sensitivity of Candida albicans to anolyte and catholyte of 0.5% NaCl and a combination of 0.5% NaCl and 0.5% Na2CO3 were performed. Both anolytes killed the tested strains in suspensions (106 cells/ml) within 5 min. The catholytes showed low antimicrobial activity. The inhibitory properties of the tested anolytes were fully preserved over a period of 2 months when stored in the dark at room temperature, but of the catholytes - for no more than 2 weeks. These results show that anolytes are promising antimicrobial agents with very high activity against C. albicans.