ION EXCHANGE THEORY

(PORTABLE MIXED BED)

• Ion Exchange may be defined as the reversible
interchange of ions between a solid and a
liquid phase in which there is no permanent
change in the structure of the solid.
• The solid is the ion exchange material
• 2R Na+ + Ca2+ R2Ca2+ + 2Na+

- The exchange R in the sodium ion form is able

to exchange for calcium and thus remove
calcium from hard water and replace it with and
equivalent quantity of sodium.
• Subsequently, the calcium-loaded resin may be
treated with sodium chloride solution, bringing it
back to the sodium form, ready for another cycle of
operation.
• This conversion step is commonly called
regeneration.
• The reaction is reversed, the ion exchange is not
permanently changed.
• Demineralization is the process of removing
dissolved ionic impurities from water.
• These positively charged cations and
negatively charged anions allow conductance
of electricity and are called electrolytes
• Ion exchange demineralization is basically a
two-step process involving treatment with
both cation and anion exchange resins.
In most demineralization systems, the water
is first passed through the cation exchanger.
Here Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ are exchanged for
H+.

• R-H+ + Na+ R-Na+ + H+

• Cation resins exhibit a much greater selectivity
for divalent calcium and magnesium ions than
for monovalent sodium ions
• The demineralization process is completed by
anion resin treatment, with the feed being the
acids of the anions in the raw water feed.
• The choice of the anion exchange resin(s) is
most critical to the water quality achievable
and economics of the system.
• R+OH- + Cl- R+Cl- + OH-