Sulfates in the water
21.7.2016
Sulfates(SO42+) are salts of a sulfuric acid in which sulfate anion (SO42−) and a cation – mostly of metal, ocassionaly amonium cation NH4+ – are found.
Limits of the sulfates in drinkable water
Limit of the sulfates in drinkable water are set to 250 mg/l. See more details in the chart.
| Quality class | very clean water | clean water | polluted water | highly polluted water | super highly polluted water |
| Content of the sulfates (mg/l) | up to 80 | up to 150 | up to 200 | up to 300 | above 300 |
Varieties of sulfates
Calcium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, barium sulphate, copper sulphate, ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate, sodium sulphate, zinc sulphate.
Options to remove the sulfates from the water
- classical condensation of sulfates with the use of lime
- condensation with the use of barium salts
- by high-aluminius cements
- using aluminium and calcium ions
- classical ion exchange
- membrane processes
Effect of sulfates to human health
Sulfates can cause diarrhea (they function as a laxative), digestion problems, irritation to the digestive dystem and dehydratation.
When bacteria overpopulate, sulfates can reduce to a dangerous hydrogen sulfate.