What is one common cause of fouling on quartz sleeves in UV systems?

Fouling on quartz sleeves in UV systems is often caused by algae, as these organisms thrive in the aquatic environments where UV systems are typically used for disinfection. Algae can form biofilms or blooms, which accumulate on the surfaces of the quartz sleeves, obstructing the UV light from effectively penetrating the water. When the quartz sleeves are fouled, it diminishes the efficiency of the UV system, as less UV light reaches the water to inactivate pathogens. Thus, maintaining clean quartz sleeves is crucial to ensure optimal performance of UV disinfection processes.

In contrast, heavy metals can cause issues in water treatment systems but typically do not directly lead to fouling on quartz sleeves. Chlorine, while commonly used as a disinfectant, is not a primary contributor to the type of fouling caused by biological growth. Iron may precipitate out of water and lead to scaling but again, it is not primarily responsible for fouling like algae is, which is an organic material more likely to adhere to surfaces in a water treatment context.