Water ionizer

A water ionizer (also known as an alkaline ionizer) is a home appliance which claims to raise the pH of drinking water by using electrolysis to separate the incoming water stream into acidic and alkaline components.[1][2] The alkaline stream of the treated water is called alkaline water. Proponents claim that consumption of alkaline water results in a variety of health benefits, making it similar to the alternative health practice of alkaline diets. Such claims violate basic principles of chemistry and physiology. There is no medical evidence for any health benefits of alkaline water.[3][4]

The machines originally became popular in Japan and other East Asian countries before becoming available in the U.S. and Europe.

Operation

Despite being described as 'water ionizers' the machines are designed to work as water electrolyzers.[5] This is an electrochemical process in which water is split to form hydrogen and oxygen by an electric current. The overall chemical reaction is shown below:[3]

2 H₂O(l) → 2 H₂(g) + O₂(g)

During this process, the water near the anode is acidic while the water near the cathode is alkaline.

2 H₂O + 2e^– → H₂ + 2 OH^– (at the cathode)

2 H₂O → 4e⁻ + O₂ + 4 H⁺ (at the anode)

Water ionizers work by simply siphoning off the water near the cathode. Water siphoned off the cathode side contains increased levels of hydroxide (OH⁻) and would be expected to have a higher pH (i.e. be more alkaline), whereas water siphoned off near the anode would have increased levels of H⁺ making it acidic.[3] The acidic water is claimed to be useful for household disinfecting.[5]

The effectiveness of the process is debatable because electrolysis requires significant amounts of time and power; hence, the amount of hydroxide that could be generated in a fast moving stream of water such as a running tap would be minimal at best. Additionally, the process of reversing the reaction requires much less energy, so if the area between the alkaline and acidic water is at least semi-permeable, the water will undergo another reaction that just leaves neutral water. The second reaction is shown below:[3]

H⁺ + OH⁻ → H₂O

However, many conventional machines these days use a semi-permeable ion-exchange membrane to separate the two compartments. Therefore, if the concentration of minerals is high enough, the pH of the anolyte can be 4-6 while the pH of the catholyte can be 8-12.[1] Similar machines have been used to produce electrolyzed water which is chemically much different because it also contains sodium hypochlorite, the main ingredient in bleach, and may therefore be used as a disinfectant.[6]

Health claims

Water ionizers are often marketed on the basis of health claims which are normally focused on their putative ability to make water more alkaline. A wide variety of benefits have been claimed, including the ability to slow aging,[7] prevent disease, offer protection from nuclear fallout,[8] give the body more energy, and offset the effects of acidic foods.[5]

There is no empirical evidence to support these claims, nor the claims that drinking ionized water will have a noticeable effect on the body.[9] Drinking ionized water or alkaline water does not alter the body's pH due to acid-base homeostasis.[7] Additionally, many have inaccurately claimed that the process of electrolysis changes the structure of water from large non-bioavailable water clusters to small bioavailable water clusters, called "micro clusters". However, there is no evidence such changes occur during electrolysis, and these claims not only contradict basic principles of chemistry,[3][10] and biology,[10] but if such chemical changes did occur it would be biologically harmful.[10]

See also

• Alkaline diet
• Pseudoscience
• Quackery
• Electrodeionization
• Magnetic water treatment
• Negative air ionization therapy
• Self-ionization of water
• Ultrafiltration

References

1. Henry, Marc; Chambron, Jacques (2013-12-16). "Physico-Chemical, Biological and Therapeutic Characteristics of Electrolyzed Reduced Alkaline Water (ERAW)". Water. 5 (4): 2094–115. doi:10.3390/w5042094.
2. Young, Robert O.; Young, Shelley Redford (2008-11-16). The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9780446548854.
3. Lower, S. "'Ionized' and alkaline water: Snake oil on tap". Retrieved 2008-10-30.
4. The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience: Volume One. ABC-CLIO. 2002-01-01. p. 130. ISBN 9781576076538.
5. Johannes, Laura (2012-04-09). "The Positives and Negatives of Ionized Water". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
6. Huang, Yu-Ru; Hung, Yen-Con; Hsu, Shun-Yao; Huang, Yao-Wen; Hwang, Deng-Fwu (2008). "Application of electrolyzed water in the food industry". Food Control. 19 (4): 329. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2007.08.012.
7. Woolston, Chris (2007-01-22). "The Healthy Skeptic; It'll quench your thirst, of course; But whether ionized water can slow aging and fight disease is another matter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
8. Alan Ross, Robert. "The Raw Food-Radiation Connection". Raw Food Life. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
9. Dunning, Brian (February 3, 2009). "Skeptoid #139: Alkaline Water Systems: Change Your Water, Change Your Bank Balance". Skeptoid. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
10. "MICROCLUSTERING: The Making of a Myth (Part 1 Facts, Claims and History) | Molecular Hydrogen Institute". Retrieved 2019-05-28.

External links

• Kent Sepkowitz. "Does Your Water Need More Ions? The latest health fad is even more ridiculous than most health fads". Slate. Retrieved July 19, 2018.