employ the same electrolysis procedure have
been in operation since MIOX was formed in
1994. The U.S. Forest Service uses these de-
vices in several parks, and they have proven
quite valuable in developing countries.
(MIOX was one of nine companies to receive
the presidential "E" award for excellence in
exporting in 2002.)
U.S. military forces in Afghanistan are
testing the individual units, and the govern-
ment had agreed to purchase 8,000 by the end
of 2003. The Purifier was the Grand Award
winner in the General Innovation category for
Popular Science's "Best of What's New" Is-
sue.
The system operates by sending an electri-
cal current through a saline solution (brine),
which produces a mixture of oxidants, most
importantly hypochlorous acid, the most ef-
fective chlorine-based disinfectant compound.
In appropriate concentrations the solution
from the small, individual unit effectively
eliminates bacteria and viruses from water in
thirty minutes. Parasites take longer. Crypto-
sporidia--against which hypochlorous acid is
eventually
effective, unlike chlorine or iodine--require
four hours.
The device contains a small chamber on
top into which a salt pellet--or rock salt or
common table salt--is placed. About a quarter
teaspoon of water is placed in a second cham-
ber underneath the first, and the unit is shaken
to mix the salt and water and produce a saline
solution. A button is pushed to send an elec-
tric current--produced by two three-volt lith-
ium camera batteries--through the solution.
Pressing the button once provides enough
oxidants to disinfect one-half liter of water.
Pressing it twice yields enough for a liter,
pressing three times provides enough for two
liters, and pressing four times yields enough
for four liters. One salt pellet lasts for ap-
proximately fifty liters of water, and one set of
batteries can disinfect about 200 liters.
A green light indicates when the oxidant
mixture has been generated, which takes five
seconds to two minutes. Combinations of red
and green constant and blinking lights indicate
whether the solution is too strong, too weak,
too salty, or the batteries are running low. A
chart aids in interpreting the signals. After the
solution has been stirred into the water to be
disinfected, test strips are provided to deter-
mine whether the water has been adequately
treated.
The solution is reported to add no taste or
odor to the water. A number of on-line publi-
cations proclaim that it eliminates pumping
water through a filter to remove crypto-
sporidia, but four hours is a long time to wait
for disinfection to take place. Water disinfec-
tion systems must be fast or they will not be
used.
The unit is approximately the size of a
Maglight and weighs 3.5 ounces, although the
entire kit, which includes test strips, and in-
struction booklet, a reference card, and a car-
rying sack weighs 8 ounces. It is available on-
line from a number of companies for $129.50.
Replacement batteries cost $6.80. Additional
test strips and salt tablets cost $17.95.
(For comparison, Polar Pure Iodine Crys-
tal Kits cost $10.50 and will treat up to 2,000
liters of water; Potable Aqua Iodine Tablets
cost $4.95 for fifty tablets, and taste neutral-
izer adds an additional $2.00. Filters, which
often would be needed along with the MIOX
Purifer, range in cost from about $50 to about
$150, although most are less than $100.)
This system appears to be most valuable
for individuals who are allergic to iodine or
who are hyperthyroid and must use some dis-
