How to make alkaline water

Actually, it is very easy to make alkaline water - we only need a water and DC electricity. The process that is used to create alkaline water is called electrolysis.

Let's see the device (see Fig. 1.) - the electrolyser. It comprises a glass jar with a plastic lid, two electrodes made of stainless steel, a power rectifier diode and a small cotton bag (made of jeans material or water permeable tarpaulin).

DIY electrolyser for alkaline water production

Fig. 1. The electrolyser for alkaline water production
  1. A glass jar (1 liter);
  2. A small cotton bag;
  3. A plastic lid;
  4. A contact;
  5. A rectifier diode
  6. A positive electrode (anode);
  7. A negative electrode (cathode);
  8. Wires;
  9. A plug.

The AC mains voltage (110 V or 220 V) is rectified by the diode and fed to the electrodes. The left electrode (anode) connected to the positive terminal (+), the right electrode (cathode) connected to the negative terminal (-). The voltage across electrodes has a half sinusoidal waveform (see Fig 2.), but it doesn't matter for the electrolysis process.

The waveform across electrodes of the electrolyser for alkaline water

Fig. 2. The waveform across electrodes

The distance between two electrodes is about 25...40 mm, their width - 35 mm, the length depends on the jar's dimensions. Both electrodes can be made of knives, spatels, spoons or any other stainless steel kitchen utensils. The rectifier diode must have at least 1 A of direct current at at least 350 V of reverse voltage (this is value for 220 V mains, or 180 V for 110 V mains).

The diode with the iron base is used as a bolt, it makes the design easier, but if you don't have this type of diodes you can use a common diode, just like 1N4004 and similar types.

As we can see from the Figure 1, the left electrode (anode) is placed into the small cotton bag made of tarpaulin or dense jeans textile. This cotton bag is water permeable, so it can store the one product of the electrolysis - the acidic water.

The edges of the cotton bag must be just a little above the water level in the jar to avoid mixing of alkaline and acidic water.

How to use this electrolyser. Put the cotton bag into the jar, then pour the water into the cotton bag and into the jar. Put one electrode into the cotton bag and another into the jar, then close the lid. Connect the plug to the AC wall socket. Wait for 10..15 minutes, then disconnect the plug from the outlet. Remove the lid, and carefully extract the cotton bag from the jar. Pour the water from the cotton bag in a glass - this is the acidic water. The water in the jar is alkaline water.

Warning! While the plug is connected the AC wall socket, you shouldn't touch the jar or other parts of the electrolyser - it's very dangerous!

The alkaline water is called "Alive Water", the acidic water is called "Dead Water". Warning! You shouldn't drink any of this water, because tap water may be contaminated and contains excessive chlorine, in the electrolysis all of this will create dangerous chemical substances!

How alkaline and acidic water can be used. Alkaline water can be used for example, for gardening. If your soil is acidic (pH is low, at or below 6.0), you can pour some alkaline water into the soil to fix it. Acidic water can be used as an antiseptic to clean a wound.

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