ABSTRACT

Ion exchange chromatography is the substitution of one type of ion for another to

remove impurities, and the process is based on the exchangeable counterion. It

is commonly used for the separation of proteins. On a laboratory scale, it was

used in order to remove unwanted impurities from exhaust gases. When the

exchangeable ion is an anion, the process is referred to as anion-exchange

chromatography. Chlorine and hydroxide ions are the most commonly used

counterions for anion exchange. The experiment was conducted to compare the

solutions' absorbance with a constant mass of resin and varying KMnO4

concentration with that of constant KMnO4 concentration and varying mass of

resin. It was observed that the initial transmittance with a constant mass of resin

with low KMnO4 concentration yielded higher transmittance as compared to that

with higher KMnO4 concentration. The transmittance of the solution with

constant KMnO4 concentration with a varying mass of resin is also high,

considering that more ions will be replaced with the increase in the mass of resin.

Thus, lesser ions are present in the solution that could trap light.

Keywords: Ion exchange chromatography, anion exchange chromatography,

counterions, resin
 INTRODUCTION

Ion exchange describes a definite chemical process in which unwanted dissolved

ions are exchanged for other ions with a similar charge. Ions are atoms or molecules

comprising a total number of electrons that are not equal to the total number of protons.

It involves the separation of molecules based on their charge. Ion exchange

chromatography is one of the most effective means for the separation of charged

particles. Ion exchange chromatography is most often performed in the form of column

chromatography. There are two different ions, cations, which are positively charged,

and anions, which are negatively charged. Michael Faraday is the one who gives these

names, which he devised based on the cation's attraction to the cathode and the anion's

attraction to the anode in a galvanic device.

Ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) is part of ion chromatography, an essential

analytical technique for the separation and determination of ionic compounds, together

with ion-partition/interaction and ion-exclusion chromatography. Ion chromatography

separation is based on ionic (or electrostatic) interactions between ionic and polar

analytes, ions present in the eluent and ionic functional groups fixed to the

chromatographic support. Two distinct mechanisms as follows; ion exchange due to

competitive ionic binding (attraction) and ion exclusion due to repulsion between

similarly charged analyte ions and the ions fixed on the chromatographic support play a

role in the separation in ion chromatography. Ion exchange has been the predominant

form of ion chromatography to date. This chromatography is one of the most critical

adsorption techniques used in separating peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and related

biopolymers, which are charged molecules in different molecular sizes and molecular
nature. The separation is based on the formation of ionic bonds between the charged

groups of biomolecules and an ion-exchange gel/support carrying the opposite charge.

Biomolecules display different degrees of interaction with charged chromatography

media due to their varying charge properties.

The earliest report of ion-exchange chromatography date back to 1850. Thompson

studied the adsorption of ammonium ions to soils. Spedding and Powell published a

series of papers describing practical methods for preparative separation of the rare

earths by displacement ion-exchange chromatography in 1947. Beginning in the 1950s,

Kraus and Nelson reported numerous analytical methods that are used for metal ions

based on the separation of their chloride, fluoride, nitrate, or sulfate complexes by anion

chromatography. In order to separate proteins, an ion exchange chromatographic

method was reported by Peterson and Sober in 1956. In modern form, ion-exchange

chromatography was introduced by Small, Stevens, and Bauman in 1975 [3]. Gjerde et

al. published a method for anion chromatography in 1979, and this was followed by a

similar method for cation chromatography in 1980. Ion-exchange chromatography has

been used for many years to separate various ionic compounds, cations, and anions

and still continues to be used. The popularity of ion-exchange chromatography has

been increased in recent years because this technique allows the analysis of a wide

range of molecules in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, environmental, agricultural, and

other industries.

Water Softening (Ion Exchange)

Calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions that cause water hardness can be

removed relatively easily by using an ion-exchange procedure. Standard water

softeners are cation exchange devices. Cations refer to positively charged ions

dissolved in the water. Cation exchange involves the replacement of the hardness ions

with a non-hardness ion.

Water softeners usually use sodium (Na +) as the exchange ion. Sodium ions are

supplied from a dissolved sodium chloride salt, also called brine. In the ion exchange

process, sodium ions are used to coat an exchange medium in the softener. The

exchange medium can be natural "zeolites" or synthetic resin beads that resemble wet

sand. The hard water passes through a softener, the calcium and magnesium trade

places with sodium ions. Sodium ions are held loosely and are replaced easily by

calcium and magnesium ions. During this process, "free" sodium ions are released into

the water.
 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. What are other applications of ion exchange aside from what was illustrated in

the experiment? Cite examples and explain.

• Used in Household (laundry detergents and water filters) to produce soft water. This is

accomplished by exchanging calcium Ca 2+ and magnesium Mg2+ cations against Na+ or

H+ cations (see water softening). Another application for ion exchange in domestic

water treatment is the removal of nitrate and natural organic matter.

• Industrial and analytical ion-exchange chromatography is another area to be

mentioned. Ion-exchange chromatography is a chromatographical method that is widely

used for chemical analysis and separation of ions. For example, in biochemistry, it is

widely used to separate charged molecules such as proteins. An essential area of the

application is the extraction and purification of biologically produced substances such as

proteins (amino acids) and DNA/RNA.

• Ion-exchange processes are used to separate and purify metals, including separating

uranium from plutonium and the other actinides, including thorium, neptunium, and

americium. This process is also used to separate the lanthanides, such as lanthanum,

cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, europium, and ytterbium, from each other. The

separation of neodymium and praseodymium was an incredibly difficult one, and those

were formerly thought to be just one element didymium - but that is an alloy of the two.

• Ion exchange can also remove hardness from water by exchanging calcium and

magnesium ions for sodium ions in an ion-exchange column. Liquid-phase (aqueous)

ion-exchange desalination has been demonstrated. In this technique, anions and

cations in saltwater are exchanged for carbonate and calcium cations, respectively,
using electrophoresis. Calcium and carbonate ions react to form calcium carbonate,

which then precipitates, leaving behind freshwater. The desalination occurs at ambient

temperature and pressure and requires no membranes or solid ion exchangers. The

theoretical energy efficiency of this method

2. Cite and discuss practical applications of the principle of adsorption in a

chemical company or industry.

• In the preparation of gas masks using activated charcoal to avoid poisonous gases like

etc.

• Froth flotation method used for the concentration of sulfide ores is based on

adsorption.

• Silica gel can be used to remove moisture and to control humidity.

• Ion exchange method used to soften water is based on adsorption.

• Adsorption chromatography is used to purify and separate pigments, harmones.

• Charcoal powder can remove colored impurities from sugar.

• Charcoal is used for making a high vacuum.

• The cleaning action of soaps and detergents.

• Formation of stable emulsions in cosmetics and syrups etc.

• In heterogeneous catalysis.

REFERENCES:

 Acikara, B. (2013, April 10). Ion-Exchange Chromatography and Its Applications.

Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/books/column-chromatography/ion-ex

change-chromatography-and-its-applications
 Cheriyedath, S. (2018). How Does Ion Exchange Chromatography Work?.

Retrieved from www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/How-Does-Ion-Exchange-

Chromato

graphy

 Work.aspx Fluence news team (2016). What is Ion Exchange?. Retrieved from

www.fluencecorp.com/what-is-ion-exchange/

 Deepak, et al. "Common Applications of Ion Exchange Resins." Lab, 9 Mar. 2016,

labtraining.com/2016/03/09/common-applications-of-ion-exchange-resins/.

 Walton, Harold F. "In Industry and Medicine." Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., May 2021, www.britannica.com/science/ion-exchang

e-reaction/Inindustry-and-medicine.