Thermo Fisher Water Purification: Barnstead Ultrapure & Pure Lab Water Solutions

You need consistent, specification-grade water that matches your assays—not a one-size-fits-all tap-to-bench workaround. Thermo Fisher’s Barnstead portfolio covers Type I/II/III water from a single brand, letting you size flow, purity, and footprint to your lab while purchasing through Iright as an authorized distributor.

What you’ll find on this page is a practical route from requirements to purchase: a plain-English explanation of purification stages, a fast mapping from applications to purity grades, representative model families, genuine consumables, and the specifications that determine fitness for purpose.

At a glance

• Grades: ASTM Type I (ultrapure, 18.2 MΩ·cm), Type II (pure), Type III/RO (feed & general use)

• Typical applications: LC-MS/ICP-MS & molecular biology (Type I); buffers/instrument feed (Type II); washers/autoclaves & upstream feed (Type III/RO)

• Representative families: Smart2Pure / GenPure Pro / MicroPure / LabTower RO

• Sourcing: Iright supplies genuine Thermo Scientific systems, cartridges, ultrafilters, and tanks

How It Works: From RO/EDI to UV/UF Polishing for Type I/II/III Water

Understanding the treatment chain helps you choose options that protect your results. Systems typically start with reverse osmosis (RO) to remove most ions and organics, may add deionization/EDI to further lower conductivity, and then use polishing cartridges to reach the target resistivity. UV helps reduce organics (TOC), while ultrafiltration (UF) controls pyrogens, nucleases, and fine particulates.

In practice, you’ll combine stages based on your starting water and end use. If your assays are sensitive to trace organics, select UV/TOC monitoring. If you run cell culture or PCR, UF at the point of dispense is a strong safeguard. Where throughput is critical, match flow rate (L/h) and storage to peak demand.

Purification chain (conceptual)

Find Your System: Match Applications to Type I/II/III Lab Water

Focus first on your experiments, not brand names or flow numbers. The right choice is the minimum grade that reliably protects your method, with enough headroom for growth. Use the matrix below to align application → purity grade → representative family and then fine-tune on flow/storage and options.

Selection matrix (application → grade → family)

Featured Models: Smart2Pure, GenPure Pro, MicroPure & LabTower RO

As you compare, weigh three essentials: grade, flow/storage, and microbial/TOC controls. The families below illustrate common fits for small to mid-sized labs and multi-user benches.

Smart2Pure / Smart2Pure Pro
Designed to deliver Type II and Type I from tap water in a compact footprint. Options include UV, UF, and integrated TOC indication, with multiple flow-rate choices to match single benches or small cores. Ideal when you want one appliance to cover general prep and ultrapure draw-off at the same station.

GenPure Pro
A performance-focused Type I line that targets 18.2 MΩ·cm with UV/TOC monitoring and UF options for molecular work. Suits LC-MS, ICP-MS, and critical analytical labs that need stable TOC and tight microbial control, often as the final node after an RO/EDI backbone.

MicroPure
A point-of-use ultrapure solution where space is at a premium. Delivers 18.2 MΩ-cm water with optional UF for nuclease-sensitive workflows. A strong choice for satellite benches that need a small, dedicated ultrapure draw, or as a final polisher near instruments.

LabTower RO
A Type III/RO producer with integrated storage, sized for washers/autoclaves and as a reliable feed to Type I/II polishing systems. If your building water varies widely, an RO tower stabilizes supply and extends the life of your downstream cartridges.

Genuine Consumables: Barnstead Cartridges, Ultrafilters, Tanks & Filters

A water system is only as good as its consumables. Using genuine Thermo Scientific Barnstead cartridges and UF modules preserves performance claims and protects instruments—especially when you rely on UV/UF for TOC and bioburden control.

Frequent triggers for replacement include resistivity drift, TOC rise, microbial alerts, or slower dispense. Plan proactively using installation-date labels and keep a small buffer of critical parts.

Typical consumable categories

• Polishing cartridges (Type I/II) — ion exchange/activated media tailored to model family

• Ultrafilter modules (UF) — point-of-use control of endotoxin, nucleases, and particulates

• UV lamps & TOC sensors — organic load control and monitoring at the polishing stage

• RO pre-filters — sediment/chlorine protection to extend RO membrane life

• Storage tanks & vent filters — minimize re-contamination; match to daily peak draw

Specification & Compliance: 18.2 MΩ·cm, TOC, Flow Rates and ASTM Types

Before you finalize a configuration, verify the physical and regulatory fit. The table below lists the specification areas that govern performance and installation. Use it as a checklist during quotation to avoid change orders later.

Specification checklist (what to confirm)

• Purity grade & targets: ASTM Type I (18.2 MΩ·cm) / Type II / Type III; expected TOC (ppb) range; endotoxin goals if applicable

• Flow & storage: Continuous flow rate (L/h) at point of dispense; tank volume (L); number of concurrent users

• Microbial/organic controls: UV (185/254 nm) presence; UF at dispense; integrated TOC monitor; recirculation mode

• Feed water & pretreatment: Minimum inlet pressure & quality; need for softening or carbon pre-filtration; drain and air-gap provisions

• Electrical & environment: Voltage/frequency, heat load, allowed ambient range, clearance for service

• Compliance & use limits: ASTM/ISO references for grade claims; “not for diagnostic use” statements where applicable; validation documents if required

FAQs: Choosing Type I vs II, TOC/UV/UF Options, RO Feed and Maintenance

A few decisions can feel subtle the first time you buy a system. These answers keep the focus on method-level outcomes so you choose confidently and maintain performance over time.

1. Do I always need Type I ultrapure water?

Not necessarily. If you are washing glassware, feeding autoclaves, or preparing buffers for non-critical use, Type III/RO or Type II may suffice. Reserve Type I for high-sensitivity assays (LC-MS/ICP-MS), molecular biology, or when trace organics and ions measurably affect results.

2. When should I add UV and TOC monitoring?

Add UV/TOC when organic background matters—mass spectrometry, trace analytics, or optical methods sensitive to organics. TOC trending is also a practical leading indicator for cartridge health.

3. What about ultrafiltration (UF)?

Choose UF for cell culture and nucleic-acid workflows where endotoxin, RNase/DNase, or fine particulates can compromise viability or amplification. UF at the point of dispensing is the cleanest control.

4. Can a RO unit directly feed my assays?

Use RO as a cost-effective volume producer and upstream conditioner. For analytical or biological assays, finish with Type II or Type I polishing as required by your method.

5. How do I size flow and storage?

Sum peak concurrent draws, then add margin for recovery. Many labs pair a moderate flow system with a correctly sized storage tank to buffer peaks without oversizing the core unit.

6. How often do consumables need replacement?

Intervals depend on feed water and usage, but practical triggers include resistivity falling, TOC drifting up, or pressure/flow drops. Keep at least one spare UF and polishing cartridge on hand to avoid downtime.

Talk to Iright: Authorized Supply, Sizing Help and Quotation

The fastest way to land on the right configuration is to translate your methods into purity, flow, and control options—then confirm fit with site utilities. Talk to Iright for a short sizing review, verified Thermo Scientific Barnstead quotations, and a mapped list of genuine cartridges, UF modules, and tanks for your system’s maintenance plan.