CA1172779A - Bacteria-removing cartridge and preparatory process - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a cartridge for removal of impurities from water, an elongated tube is charged, between water-permeable barriers, with ion exchange resin of a type capable of removal of bac-teria from water. Outside one such barrier, an outlet cap is charged with water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable form. Preferably, the bactericide is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, in granular form.

Description

~ ~ ~7~779 Background of the' Inv _ ion This invention pertains to an improvement in a cartridge ~or removal of impurities from water~ The improve-ment employs ion exchange resin of a type capable of removal of bacteria from water, in a cartridge. This invention also per-tains to a process for preparatîon of the cartridge for use.
'It is known for various adsorbing, absorbing, and filtering media including activated carbon and ion exchange resins of varlous types for removal of impurities from water to be packaged in disposable cartridges of a type comprising an elongated tube, water-permeable barriers disposed across each end of the elongated tube, a sealed cap ha~ing an inlet for water at one end of the elongated tube, and a sealed cap having an outlet for water at the other end The inlet and the outlet are sealed, in shipment and storage, by removable seals. The elongated tube is charged between the respective 'barriers with a selected medium. Various cartridges, which are distinguished by their contents of various media, are available commercially from Illinois Water Treatment Company, Rockford, Illinois 61105, under its trademark IWT, and are described in Eulletin DX-1079 of Illinois Water Treatment Company.
As described in U. S. Patent No, 4,199,449, it is known for large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange resins in various forms includin~
chloride, sulfate, and hyd~oxide forms to be used to remove bacteria o~ various gram positive and gram negative types in-cluding 'E', coli, S~; f'aecal'is, and Ps, aeruginosa from water, which is to be used in manufacture of pharmaceuticals, in manufacture of cosmetics, and otherwise, Such resins are available commercially from Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19105, under its trademark AMBERG~RD, and are described in Bulletin lE-246 (June, 1978) of Rohm and Haas Company, and in F. L. Slejko and C. R. Costin, "Upgrading the Microbiological Quality of Process Deionized Water by Ion Ex-change Filtration", an updated paper ( _ ca 1979) distributed by Rohm and Haas Company.
Before it is used, such a resin is pretreated with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, which places the resin in proper ionic form, and which may sterilize the resin. How-

- 2 - ~ l ~'72779 ever, the resin may become recontaminated with bacteria in storage, in handling of the resin, or otherwise.
A column of such a resin tends to become loaded with bacteria progressively from its inlet to its outlet. Bacteria loading a column of such a resin near its outlet tend to be washed out with water leaving the column. As bacteria from air-borne and other sources tend to be found throughout a column of such a resin unless aseptic conditions are maintained, it is known for a column of such a resin to be prepared by percolation of an aqueous solution of a suitable bactericide, as exemplified by sodium hypochlorite, through the column so as to kill bacteria found throughout the column, whereupon the aqueous solution must be rinsed from the column so as to eliminate residual contamination by the aqueous solution.
Additionally, it is known for large-pore macroreticular and other types of ion exchange resins to contain microbiocides, which may contain halogens, and which are bound either chemically or physically to the resins. Pertinent references include U.S. Patent No. 4,076,622, which deals with large-pore macroreticular ion exchange resins, and U.S. Patent No. 4,190,529, U.S. Patent No. 4,187,183, U.S. Patent No. 3,817,860, and U.S.
Patent No. 3,316,173, which deal with various other ion exchange resins. As mentioned hereinbefore, U.S. Patent No. 4,199,449 also is pertinent here.
Also, it is known fora soluble bactericide, which may contain chlorine, to be used in various apparatus for purification of water for drinking, swimming, etc. Typically, such apparatus yield -water containing some dissolved bactericide. Exemplary references include U.S. Patent No. 4,152,262, U.S. Patent No.
4,151,092, U.S. Patent No. 4,115,270, and U.S. Patent No.
2,792,942.
In a co-pending Canadian patent application no. 400,602 filed April 7, 1982 in the name Terry R. Dillman, assigned commonly herewith, and entitled BACTERIA-REMOVING CARTRIDGE AND
PREPARATORY PROCESS, it has been disclosed that, in a cartridge of the type noted hereinabove, the elongated tube is charged, between the respective barriers, with such a resin capable of removal of bacteria from water and that the inlet cap is charged with water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable form which is separated from the resin by one such barrier -~ ~a~7~77~

unless the bactericide permeates the first barrier in a solu-tion, an~ which may be sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid,

3 33C12Na, As disclosed in the aforesaid application, the inlet is connected to a source of water, the bactericide is dissolved in water from the source, which thus enters the cartridge from the source through the inlet, so as to enable the bactericide to permeate the aforesaid barrier, percolate through the resin, permeate the other barrier, and leave the cartridge through the outlet, in aqueous solution. ~lso, water leaving the cartridge through the outlet is recovered and monitored, for positive indications of the bactericide in aqueous solution, until such indications cease to be found, The bactericide kills bacteria not only in the resin but also in the outlet cap and the fittings connected to the outlet cap, This invention addresses potential risks of bacterial contamination of the outlet cap and the fittings connected to the outlet cap.
Summary of the Invention This invention pertains to an improvement in a car-tridge for removal of impurities from water, of a type com-prising an elongated tube, a first barrier, which is permeable to water, and which is disposed across a first end of the elongated tube, a second barrier, which is permeable to water, and which is disposed across a second end of the elongated tube, a first cap, which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the elongated tube at its first end so as to enclose the first barrier, and which is closed except for an inlet for water, and a second cap, which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the 3Q elongated tube at its second end so as to enclose the second barrier, and which is closed except for an outlet for water.
The improvement contemplates tha~ the elongated tube is charged, between the first barrier and the second barrier, with ion exchange resin of a type capable of removal of bac-teria from water, The improvement also contemplates that the second cap is charged with wa-ter-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable form, which is separated from the resin by the second barrier, This invention also pertains to a process comprising a step of providing a cartridge of the type admitting the :~7277'~

improvement discussed hereinbefore, wherein the elongated tube is charged, between the first barrier and the second barrier, with the resin and wherein the second cap is charged with water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable form, which is separated from the resin by the second barrier.
The process also comprises a step of connectîng the inlet to a source of water, which thus enters the cartridge from the source through the inlet, percolates through the resin, and permeates the second barrier so as to dissolve the bacteri-cide, which leaves the cartridge through the outlet, in aqueoussolution, a step of recovering water leaving the cartridge through the outlet, and a step of monitoring water being re-covered, for positive indications of the bactericide in aqueous solution, until such indications cease to be found.
Advantageously, the source may be a source of water from which bacteria are to be removed~ as bacteria carried in water from the source is removed by the resin, so as to avoid any need for another source of water :Eor the aqueous solution.
Common considerations apply to the improvement de-scribed hereinbefore and to the process described hereinbefore.The improvement enables the process to be practiced. The second cap of the cartridge may be charged with the bactericide in a granular form, which is preferred so as to facilitate dosage, or in a caked form. Preferab:l.y, the bactericide con-tains chlorine, which in aqueous solution may be monitored easily by standard tests. Preferably, sodium salt of dichloro-isocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12~a, is used as the bactericide. As available in a technical grade, such salt is granular. The resin may be a large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange resin, whereupon the second cap may be charged with not less than approximately two grams of sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid as the bactericide in a granular form, by dry weight~
It has been found that, unless such a resin has been e~posed to high levels of bacterial contamination after the resin has been pretreated with a aqueous solution of hydro-chloric acid, it ordinarily is not necessary for the resin to be treated again with a bactericide after the cartridge has been charged with the resin and before the cartridge is used, as such a resin, does not tend to slough bacterîa at low levels of bacterial contamination.

~7~7~
Brie~ Description o~ ;the Draw~n~s Figure 1 is a front, perspective view of a cartridge embodying the improvement described hereinbefore, as mounted in a bracket, which may be mounted to a wall, Figure 1 also shows fittings and conduits.
Figure 2 is an axial, sectional view of the cartridge of Figure 1, as taken along line 2--2 in a direction indicated by arrows, wherein the cartridge contains a bactericide in a granular form. As shown in Figure 2, an inlet of the cartridge and an outle~ of the cartridge are sealed by removable seals, which are attached in shipment and storage, and which have been removed in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar, fragmentary view of one end of a cartridge of similar construction containing a bactericide in a caked form.
Detailed Desc-ription of_Preferred_Embodiment As shown in Figure 1, a cartridge 10 for removal of bacteria from water is mounted in a bracket 12, which may be mounted to a wall, The cartridge 10 has a vertical orienta-tion, which is conventional for prior cartridges for removalof impurities from water, but which is not essential.
As shown in Figure 2, the cartridge lO comprises an elongated tube 20, which may be ma~e of transparent, pressure-resistant, rigid polycarbonate, as available from General Electric Company, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06602, under its trademark LEXAN, so as to allow visual inspection of its con-tents. Also, the cartridge 10 comprises a first barrier 22, which is permeable to water, which is disposed across a ~irst end 24 of the elongated tube 20, and which may be a rigid disc o~ porous, high-density polyethylene, as available from Glasrock Plastics Group, Industrial Products Division, Fairburn, Georgia 30213. Also, the cartridge 10 comprises a second barrier 26, which is permeable to water, which is disposed across a second end 28 of the elongated tube 20, and which may be a similar disc.
As shown in Figure 2, the cartridge 10 comprises a first cap 30, which has a cylindrical wall 32. The cylindrical wall 32 has an inner step 34, which accommodates the first barrier 22, and an inner step 36, which accommodates the elon-4Q gated tube 20 at its first end 24, Before the cartridge 10 is 277~

charged with resin and bactericide through the first end 24 of the elongated tube 20! the cylindrical wall 32 is welded ultra-sonically to the elongated tube 20 so as to seal the first cap 30 to the elongated tube 20 at its first end 24. The first cap 30, which has an inlet 38 for water, encloses the first barrier 22 and closes the first end 24 of the elongated tube 20 except for the inlet 38. Also, the cartridge 10 comprises a second cap 40, which has a cylindrical wall 42. The cylin-drical wall 42 has an inner step 44, which accommodates the second barrier 26, and an inner step 46, which accommodates the elongated tube 20 at its second end 28. After the cartridge 10 has been charged with resin and bactericide through the first end 24 of the elongated tube 20, the cylindrical wall 42 is welded ultrasonically to the elongated tube 20 so as to seal the second cap 40 to the elongated tube 20 at its second end 28. The second cap 40, which has an outlet 48 for water, encloses the second barrier 26 and closes the second end 28 of the elongated tube 20 except for the outlet 48~
As shown in Figure 2, the first cap 30 has an exter-nal, conical boss 50, through which the inlet 38 extends, and a removable seal 52 is fitted onto the boss 50 so as to seal the inlet 38. Also, the second cap 40 has an external, conical boss 54 through which the outlet 48 extends, and a removable seal 56 is fitted onto the boss 54 so as to seal the outlet 48. The removable seal 52 and the removable seal 56 may be made of any suitable, elastomeric material, as exempli-fied by neoprene, The removable seal 52 and the removable seal 56 protect contents of the cartridge 10 against dehydration and contamination in shipment and storage, and are removed before the cartridge 10 is mounted in the bracket 12.
As shown in Figure 1, the boss 50 on the first cap 30 fits into upper fittings 60 on the bracket 12, and the boss 54 fits into lower fittings 62 on the bracket 12. The fittings 60 are connected, via a manual valve 64, to a conduit 66, which is adapted to be connected to a source (which is indicated dia-grammatically in Figure 1) of water from which bacteria are to be removed, under pressure not to exceed approxima~ely 100 psig.
The fittings 62 are connected to a conduit 68, which is adapted to be connected to a rece.iver (not shown) for water.
Precise details of the bracket 12, the fittings 60, the fittings 62, the valve 64, the conduit 66, and the conduit .~7277~

68 are inessential to comprehension of this invention~ As described so far, the cartridge 10, the bracket 12 ? the fit-tings 60, the fittings 62, the ~alve 64, the conduît 66 ? and the conduit 68 are similar to prior products sold by Illinois Water Treatment Company for removal of impurities other than bacteria from water~
Pursuant to this invention, ~he elongated tube 20 is charged, between the first barrier 22 and the second barrier 26, with ion exchange resin 80 of a type capable of removal of bacteria from water, As shown in Figure 2, a bead form of the resin 80 is used. Preferably, the resin 80 is a large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange resin in chloride, sulfate, or hydroxide form, as discussed hereinbefore.
Pursuant to the in~ention, the second cap 40 is charged with water-soluble bactericide 90 in a shel~-stable, water-activatable form, which is separated from the resin 80 by the second barrier 26, Preferably, the bactericide 90 is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na, which contains chlorine, as chlorine in aqueous solution may be monitored easily by standard tests. As available in a tech-nical grade, such salt is granular.
The second cap 40 may be charged with approximately two grams of sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na, as the bactericide 90 in a granular form, by dry weight.
After the valve 64 has been opened, water from the source enters into the cartridge 10 through the conduit 66, through the fittings 60, and through the inlet 38, permeates the first barrier 22, percolates through the resin 80, and permeates the second barrier 26 so as to dissolve the bacteri-cide in the second cap 40, The bactericide leaves the car-tridge 10 through the outlet 48, in aqueous solution.
Water recovered from the outlet 48 is monitored, either continuously or intermittently, ~or positive indications of the bactericide in aqueous solution until such indications cease to be found~ Once such indications cease to be found, until the cartridge 10 becomes loaded with bacteria from the first barrier 22 to the second barrier 26~ bacteria tending to be washed out with water leaving the cartridge 10 through the :~ ~1 7~7'~

outlet 48 tend to be few. Advantageously? the bactericide in aqueous solution kills bacteria found in the second cap 40, the fittings 62, and the conduit 68, As shown in Figure 2, the second cap 40 of the car-tridge 10 is charged, within its lateral wall 42~ with the bactericide 90 in a granular form, which is preferred for ease of dosage. As shown in Figure 3, a similar cap 40' which is associated with a similar barrier 26~ and with a similar seal 56' at the outlet end of a cartridge 10' of similar construc-tion, is charged, within its lateral wall 42', wîth a bacteri-cide 90' in a caked form.
Preferably, as discussed hereinabove, the bac~ericide is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na.
Alternatively, the bactericide may be calcium hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)2. Other bactericides are suitable alternatives.
A standard method to detect free chlorine in water is the "DPD Colorîmetric Method", Method 409F, as found in Standard Methocls for the Examination of Water and ~astewater, . . _ . . _ 14th edition, American Public Health Association, 1976, and as available in kit form from Hach Chemical Company, P. O. Box 389, Loveland, Colorado 80537, as Kit Model CN-70 and Ki~ Model CN-66~ Water recovered from the outlet 48 may be monitored, intermittently by such a method, for positive indications of free chlorîne from sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na, in aqueous solution unti:L such indications cease to be found.
~ quantity of AMBERGARD XE 352A resin as received ~rom Rohm and ~aas Company, was charged into a column. Three bed volumes of a 10% aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid were passed through the resins. The resin then was rinsed with deionized water, which had been filtered through a 0.~ micron filter, until the resin was free of hydrochloric acid. The resin then was removed from the column. ~xcess water then was removed from the resin by suction filtration in a large Buchner funnel.
In a cartridge like the cartridge 10, two grams of sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na, in granular form were sealed between the second barrier and the second (outlet) cap, which then was sealed onto the elongated tube of the cartridge, The cartridge then was hand-packed with 117~7 I'~

the resin, which had been pretreated as noted in the preceding paragraph, whereupon the first (inlet~ cap and the first barrier were sealed onto the elongated tube of the cartridge.
Another cartridge like the cartridge 10 was prepared in like manner except that two grams of calcium hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)2, were substituted for said salt.
Each cartridge was installed in a bracket like the bracket 12, so as to associate the first (inlet~ cap of such cartridge with upper fittings like the fittings 60, and so as to associate the second (outlet) cap of such cartridge with lower fittings like the fittings 62. Each cartridge then was connected, at the inlet of the first (inlet) cap, to a source of deionized water, which had been filtered through a 0.2 micron filter, and which rinsed each cartridge until its effluent stream was found to be devoid of free chlorine, The effluent streams were monitored for free chlorine by the "DPD
Colorimetric Method" noted hereinabove~
After each effluent stream was found to be devoid of free chlorine, a sample of such effluent stream was collected in a sterile container. Each sample was tested for total bac-terial count by the standard membrane filter technique. The membrane filters were incubated for 2~ hours on "Total Count Medium with T.T.C. Indicator", as obtained in ampule form from Millipore Corporation, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, whereupon no bacterial colonies were found.

Claims (24)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A cartridge for removal of impurities from water comprising (a) an elongated tube having a first end and a second end, (b) a first barrier, which is permeable to water, and which is disposed across the first end of the elongated tube, (c) a second barrier, which is permeable to water, and which is disposed across the second end of the elongated tube, (d) a first cap which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the elongated tube at the first end of the elongated tube so as to enclose the first barrier, and which is closed except for an inlet for water, (e) a second cap, which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the elongated tube at the second end of the elongated tube so as to enclose the second barrier, and which is enclosed except for an outlet for water, (f) an ion exchange resin of a type capable of removing bacteria from water, said ion exchange resin being charged between said first barrier and said second barrier within said elongated tube, (g) a highly water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable form charged in said second cap, said highly water-soluble bactericide flushing downstream through said second cap and said outlet when water is first introduced into said cartridge to sterilize portions of said cartridge located downstream of said bactericide, said bactericide being rapidly and completely expended so that following sterilization normal use of said cartridge allows said ion exchange resin to remove bacteria from water while preventing adulteration of said water with said bactericide.

2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bactericide in the second cap is separated from the resin by the second barrier unless the bactericide permeates the second barrier in a solution.

3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the second cap is charged with the bactericide in a granular form.

4. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the second cap is charged with the bactericide in a caked form.

5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the bactericide contains chlorine.

6. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the bactericide is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid.

7. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the resin is a large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange resin.

8. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the resin is a large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange resin and the bactericide is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid.

9. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the resin is a large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange resin and the second cap is charged with not less than approximately one gram of sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid as the bactericide in a granular form, by dry weight, for each ten grams of the resin, by dry weight.

10. A method of preparing an ion exchange resin of a type capable of removal of bacteria from water comprising steps of (a) providing a cartridge of a type comprising (1) an elongated tube having a first and a second end, (2) a first barrier, which is permeable to water, and which is disposed across the first end of the elongated tube, (3) a second barrier, which is permeable to water, and which is disposed across the second end of the elongated tube, (4) a first cap, which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the elongated tube at the first end of the elongated tube so as to enclose the first barrier, and which is closed except for an inlet of water, and (5) a second cap, which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the elongated tube at the second end of the elongated tube so as to enclose the second barrier, and which is closed except for an outlet for water, wherein the elongated tube is charged, between the first barrier and the second barrier, with the resin and wherein the second cap is charged with a highly water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable form, which is separated from the resin by the second barrier, (b) connecting the inlet to a source of water which thus enters the cartridge from the source through the inlet, permeates the first barrier, percolates through the resin, and permeates the second barrier, so as to rapidly and completely dissolve the highly water-soluble bactericide in water which leaves the cartridge through the outlet, in aqueous solution, to effect rapid sterilization of a portion of said cartridge, (c) recovering water leaving the cartridge through the outlet, and (d) monitoring water being recovered, for positive indications of the bactericide in aqueous solution, until such indications cease to be found in order to ensure that subsequent operation of said cartridge to remove bacteria from water does not result in contamination of said water with bactericide.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second cap is charged with the bactericide in a granular form.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second cap is charged with the bactericide in a caked form.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the bactericide contains chlorine.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the bactericide is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the resin is a large-pore, macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange resin.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the bactericide is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the second cap is charged with not less than approximately one gram of sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid as the bactericide by dry weight, for each ten grams of the resin, by dry weight.

18. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the inlet is connected in step (b) to a source of water from which bacteria are to be removed.

19. An ion exchange cartridge for removal of bacteria from water comprising: a housing having a water inlet and a water outlet and defining a chamber therebetween; an ion exchange resin particularly adapted to remove bacteria from water and located in a first portion of said chamber; a highly water-soluble bactericidal preconditioning agent contained within said chamber at a location between said first portion of the chamber and the outlet, whereby when water is initially flowed into said inlet, through said chamber and out of said outlet said bactericidal agent is rapidly dissolved and sterilizes portions of said cartridge and said outlet located downstream from said location and whereby said bactericidal agent is rapidly exhausted so that upon complete depletion of said bactericidal agent said ion exchange material adsorbs bacteria from said water and said water remains substantially free of any bactericidal agent.

20. An ion exchange cartridge for the removal of bacteria from water as defined in claim 18 wherein said bactericidal agent is comprised of a salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid.

21. An ion exchange cartridge for removing bacteria from water as defined in claim 19 wherein said salt of said dichloroisocyanuric acid is a sodium salt of dichloroiso-cyanuric acid.

22. A method of treating a bacteria removing ion exchange cartridge to sterilize portions of said cartridge downstream of a bactericide comprising the steps of loading a highly water-soluble bactericidal agent within a chamber of said cartridge, said chamber also containing a bacteria removing ion exchange resin upstream of said bactericide; flowing a stream of contaminated water into said cartridge; contacting said bactericide with said water; dissolving said bactericide in said water rapidly and completely; sterilizing with said dissolved bactericide all portions of said chamber downstream of said bactericide; flushing said cartridge free of bactericide; and adsorbing bacteria from said water with said ion exchange resin to provide purified water without bactericide.

23. A method of treating a bacteria removing ion exchange cartridge to sterilize portions of said cartridge downstream of a bactericide as defined in claim 22 wherein the step of loading said cartridge with said highly water-soluble bacteri-cidal agent comprises the step of loading said cartridge with a sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid.

24. A method of removing bacteria from a stream of liquid using a replaceable cartridge of ion exchange resin comprising loading a replaceable cartridge with an ion exchange resin having the capacity of adsorbing bacteria and with a highly soluble bactericide downstream of said resin, inserting said cartridge into a fluid conduit whereby the fluid in said conduit passes into contact with said resin and said bactericide, dissolving said bactericide in said water rapidly and completely; sterilizing with said dissolved bactericide all portions of said replaceable cartridge downstream of said bactericide; flushing said replaceable cartridge free of bactericide; and adsorbing bacteria from said fluid stream with said ion exchange resin to provide a purified fluid stream without bactericide.