MIXED BED ION

EXCHANGE
Mayette Rose A. Sarroza, ChE
MEE221
MIXED BED ION EXCHANGE
 Mixed bed ion exchange is mainly used in the water purification
industry for polishing process water to achieve demineralized water
quality (such as after reverse osmosis system or anion-cation
exchange).
 It has both cation and anion resin mixed together by air agitation to
form a homogeneous blend in a single vessel.
 As water flows through the resin bed, the ion exchange process is
repeated many times, "polishing" the water to a very high purity.

MBIE
 Due to increasing boiler operating pressures and the manufacture of products
requiring contaminant-free water, there is a growing need for higher water
quality than cation- anion demineralizer can produce.

 In a mixed bed ion exchange column, cation and anion resins are adjacent
through mixture. In H-OH form the cation resin contains exchangeable H+
ions and anion resin contains exchangeable OH- ions.
Cations: ( Removed by cation resin)
 Calcium (Ca2+ )

 Magnesium (Mg2+)
 Iron (Fe3+)
 Manganese (Mn2+)
 Sodium (Na+)
 Hydrogen (H+)

Anions: ( Removes by anion resin)

 Nitrates (NO32-)
SBA: Strong Base Anion
 Sulfates (SO42- ) WBA: Weak Base Anion
SAC: Strong Acid Cation
 Chlorides (Cl-) WAC: Weak Acid Cation

 Carbonates (CO32-)

 Silica (SiO2-)

 Hydroxyl (OH-)
 Strong
• pH of strong acid is 1
• Example is Hydrogen Chloride (HCL),
Sulphuric Acid and Hydrobromic Acid
Acid
• Fully ionized or dissociate in H20 to give
higher concentration of Hydrogen ion.
• pH of strong base is between 12-14
• Example is Sodium Hydroxide, Lithium
Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide.
Base • Fully ionized or dissociate in H20 to give
higher concentration of Hydroxyl ion.
Weak
• pH of weak acid is between 3-5
• Example is Ethanoic acid, Acetic Acid and
Formic Acid
• Partially ionized or dissociate in H20 to
giver lower concentration of Hydrogen ion.
• pH of weak base is between 7-10
• Example is Ammonia, Carbonate and
Pyridine
• Partially ionized or dissociate in H20 to
giver lower concentration of Hydroxyl ion.
 Mixed bed is better because having both resins in very close proximity
creates a stronger driving force as the hydrogen ion exchanged at one
resin attracts a hydroxyl ion from the other resin to form water.

 Deionized water is usually an excellent substitute for distilled water and

is less expensive.

 The mixed bed process is conducted in plastic vessels to resist acid

corrosion, and faulty balancing of flows during regeneration can
generate so much heat from acid reacting with base that steam forms and
the plastic melts.
Mixed Bed Ion Exchange
 High quality water output
 Ease of operation
 Low capital cost
 Can be done in one tank only and
consumes minimal amount of space
 Lesser effluent during regeneration
Ion Exchange
 Requires larger space for installation
 Longer time of operation
 More effluent produced during
regeneration
 Additional CO2 degasifying unit due to
carbonates in anion
REGENERATION
 The resin is separated by backwashing, with the lighter anion resin settling on
top of the cation resin.
 Regenerant acid is introduced through the cation resin bed thereby restored to
the hydrogen form.
 Regenerant caustic is introduced through the anion resin bed thereby restored to
the hydroxide form.
 The regenerant streams meet at the boundary between the cation and anion resin
and discharge through a collector located at the resin interface.
 Following regenerant introduction and displacement rinse, air and water are used
to mix the resins. Then the resins are rinsed, and the unit is ready for service.