WATER SOFTENING

Methods of Removing Hardness

 INTRODUCTION
• Definition of Water Softening
• Not Essential from Water Treatment Point of View

Reduction of Soap Consumption+ Lower Cost of Maintenance in Plumbing

Accessories+Improved Taste of Food Preparations

Choice Depends on the Cost of Treatment and Satisfaction to Consumers

• For Industrial Supplies….. Is most Important

Salts of Calcium and Magnesium reacts with soap until they have been neutralized,
` a lather cannot form
Types of Hardness
 TYPES OF HARDNESS PRESENT IN WATER

• Methods of Removing Hardness

1) Temporary Hardness- Caused due to Carbonates and Bicarbonates of Calcium

and Magnesium (Carbonate Hardness)
2) Permanent Hardness- Caused due to Sulphates, Chlorides and Nitrites of Ca
and Mg (Non Carbonate Hardness)

Permissible Limit for Public water Supplies- 75 to 115 mg/l

Methods of Removing Hardness

1) Lime Soda Process

METHODS OF REMOVING TEMPORARY HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

1) Methods of Removing Temporary Hardness- By Simple Boiling

Method
 METHODS OF REMOVING TEMPORARY HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

2) Methods of Removing Temporary Hardness- By addition of Lime

 METHODS OF REMOVING PERMANENT HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

2) Lime Soda Process-

In this process Lime and Soda ash are added to the Hard water; which reacts
with calcium and magnesium salts to form insoluble precipitates of Calcium
carbonate and Magnesium Hydroxide.

This Precipitate can be sedimented out in Sedimentation Tank

 METHODS OF REMOVING PERMANENT HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

2) Lime Soda Process-

Lime removes the entire carbonate hardness

Lime Reacts with Non Carbonate hardness of Magnesium to Convert it into
Non carbonate Hardness of Calcium
Non Carbonate Hardness of Calcium is finally removed by Soda Ash
Optimum pH – CaCO3- 9-9.5 & Mg(OH)2- 11( Addition of Excess Lime)
 METHODS OF REMOVING PERMANENT HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

2) Lime Soda Process-

Complete Removal Of Hardness Can not be achieved by Chemical Precipitation

Remaining Precipitates slowly – remains in pipe
 Hence Process of Re carbonation is used
 METHODS OF REMOVING PERMANENT HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

2) Lime Soda Process-

Re carbonation Process Flow Diagram
 METHODS OF REMOVING PERMANENT HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

2) Lime Soda Process- Advantages

a) Economical
b) Can be Easily Combined with usual water treatment
c) Lesser Quantity of Coagulant
d) Increase in pH- Corrosion+ Kills Bacteria
 METHODS OF REMOVING PERMANENT HARDNESS
PRESENT IN WATER

2) Lime Soda Process- Disadvantages/ Limitation-

a) Large Quantity Sludge- Disposal Problem

b) Careful Operation and Skilled Supervision is required
c) Recarbonation is Necessary
d) Lime Soda Process can remove hardness only upto 50mg/l
 Methods of Removing Hardness

2) Zeolite Process or Ion Exchange

Process or Base Exchange Process
2) Zeolite Process-
 Zeolites are minerals that mainly contains Aluminum and Silicon Compounds
Zeolite are the natural or synthetic cations or base exchange hydrated silicates
of sodium and aluminum
Zeolite softeners resembles- sand filter in which filtering media is zeolite
rather than sand
Process is very effective and can produce zero Hardness
Colour Due to Fe and Mn can also be removed
The pH of Water is not affected
No Sludge is formed
2) Zeolite Process-
 Process becomes costly if iron and manganese (fe and Mn) are present in
water
Ca and Mg zeolites so formed can be regenerated into sodium zeolite by
Treating with 5 to 10% solution of NaCl
This Method is not suitable for Turbid Water
Methods of Removing Hardness

2) Demineralization Process
3) Demineralization Process-

 Demineralization process – some times called as deionized water, is as pure

as distilled water and is mostly suitable for industrial purposes
This complete removal of minerals present in water can be carried out by first
passing the water through cation exchange resins then through a bed of anion
exchange resin
Cation Exchange Resin- Hydrogen
Anion Exchange Resin- Hydroxyl Ion