Ion exchange method ( de-ionisation or demineralisation)

• The process of complete removal of all ions present in water is called demineralization.

• Demineralization of water is carried out by ion-exchange resins.

• Ion-exchange resins are cross-linked, long chain organic polymers with a microporous
structure.

• The functional groups attached to the polymeric chain are responsible for ion exchange.

• On the basis of functional group present in resins, they are classified into two groups :

i) Cation exchange resins : (R-H+)

 They contain -COOH ,SO3H or phenolic OH as the functional group.

 They are mainly styrene – divinyl benzene copolymer which on sulphonation or

carboxylation , become capable to exchange their hydrogen ions with the cations in the
water/solutions.
Sulphonate form of cation-exchanger
Types of resins continued………
ii) Anion exchange resins : (R+OH-)
• They contain basic functional groups such as amino or quaternary ammonium (-NR3) or
quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulphonium groups as an integral part of resin matrix.
• They are styrene- divinyl benzene or amine formaldehyde copolymers containing basic
functional group.
• These on treatment with dil. NaOH solution become capable to exchange their OH- ion with
anions in water and therefore they are known as anion exchangers.
• Ambertite – 400 and Dowex-3 are examples of commercially available anion exchange
resins .

Hydroxide form of anion exchanger

 Properties of an ideal ion-exchanger

 For effective water treatment, ion exchangers should possess the following
properties.
 They should be non-toxic.
 They should not decolourise the water being treated.
 They should possess a high ion-exchange capacity. (It depends upon the total
number of ion active groups per unit weight of the exchanger and is expressed as
milli equivalents per gram of the exchanger).
 They should be physically durable.
 They should be resistant to chemical attack.
 They should be cheap and commonly available.
 They must be capable of being regenerated and back-washed easily and
economically.
 They should have a large surface area since ion-exchange is a surface phenomenon.
 At the same time, their resistance to flow must be compatible with hydraulic
requirements
Pros and cons of different ion exchangers
 Process of Ion exchange
• The ion exchange unit consists of two tanks:
• Cation exchange resins are placed in first tank and anion exchange resins are placed in second tank.
• At first hard water is passed through a cation exchange resin where all the Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions are
exchanged by H+ ions of resin.

2RH+ + CaSO4 → R2Ca2+ + H2SO4

2RH+ + MgSO4 → R2Mg2+ + H2SO4
2RH+ + CaCl2 → R2Ca2+ + 2HCl
2RH+ + MgCl2 → R2Mg2+ + 2HCl

• The effluent (from this step) is then passed through an anion exchanger tank. Here the anions
like SO42-,Cl- etc. are present in water exchanged from OH- ions of the resin.

ROH– + Cl– → RCl– + OH–

2ROH– + SO42– → R2SO42– + 2OH–
2ROH– + CO32– → R2CO32– + 2OH–

• The water coming out of the anion exchanger is completely free from cations and anions
• responsible for hardness. It is known as de-ionized or de-mineralized water.
• H+ released from cation exchanger combine with OH- released from anion exchanger and formed H2O
H+ + OH- → H2O
Process of ion exchange continued………….

Demineralization of water

 NOTE:

• For de-ionisation water is first passed through cation exchanger and then through anion exchanger.

• Cation exchangers are easily attacked by acids, however all types of exchangers are unaffected by acids.

• When water is first passed through cation exchanger, salts present in water are converted into
corresponding acids which do not harm further on passing through anion exchanger and finally converted
into pure water.

• If reverse sequence is used , then on passing through anion exchanger alkali is produced which harms the
cation exchanger in the further step.
 Regeneration of ion exchange resins

• After some time the cation and the anion exchangers get exhausted and stop
working. The anion exchanger may be regenerated by treating it with NaOH
solution.

R2SO42– + 2NaOH → 2ROH– + Na2SO4

R2Cl– + NaOH → ROH– + NaCl
 
• The cation exchanger may be regenerated by passing a solution of HCl or H2SO4
 
R2Ca2+ + H2SO4 → 2RH+ + CaSO4
R2Mg2+ + H2SO4 → 2RH+ + MgSO4
R2Ca2+ + 2HCl → 2RH+ + CaCl2
R2Mg2+ + 2HCl → 2RH+ + MgCl2
 
 Advantages and disadvantages of ion
exchange method
• Advantages
 Highly acidic or alkaline water can be softened.
 Water of very low hardness is produced (about 2 ppm)
 Anions as well as cations are removed thereby
problems like caustic embrittlement and corrosion
are reduced.
• Disadvantages
 The process is costly.
 Turbid water decreases the efficiency of the process
Numerical example