Resins in ion exchange equipment act as chemical sponges, interacting with positively- or negatively-charged ions in the water. This process accomplishes a variety of endeavors including contaminant removal for wastewater treatment, water softening and purifying for ultra-pure water use, recycling metals and separating sugars or salts from liquids in food processing.

As you oversee the chemically intensive absorption exchange process with an eye toward getting the most from your budget, consider these three alternatives:

1. Exchanging resins to get the ion exchange resin that precisely fits your filtering process;

2. Replacing absorption filters as they start to degrade before you require a complete teardown of your ion separation equipment;

3. Renovating the whole ion exchange system using the latest technology available from absorption equipment manufacturers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Replace or restore the resins in your ion exchange equipment

As the resin mops up the elements targeted for removal, you choose whether to dispose of the items as contaminants or recover them as ingredients of value. As technology progresses, work with resin manufacturers to stay abreast of the latest developments in resins to keep your process running at peak efficiency.

I recommend: Dow Water Solutions walks you through the process of selecting the right DOWEX ion exchange product for your particular application. Siemens’ Wastewater Ion Exchange (WWIX) Service specializes in the removal of dissolved heavy metals from a variety of rinse water and wastewater processes.

Replace worn absorption exchange filters

Ion exchange filters and membranes serve as the matrix or bed on which the chemical reaction occurs. As elements aggregate and are removed, the filters wear out. Schedule regular replacement as the membranes degrade to prevent costly system teardowns.

I recommend: Larox produces industrial filters under the brand names Larox, Ceramec, Hoesch, Pannevis, Scanmec and Scheibler. Sybron Chemicals, a LANXESS company, produces what it considers to be the strongest membrane in the industry, used in producing organic acids, recovering metals from electroplating and metal finishing baths, and electrocoating for both anionic and cationic paint systems.

Replace worn absorption exchange filters

Ion exchange filters and membranes serve as the matrix or bed on which the chemical reaction occurs. As elements aggregate and are removed, the filters wear out. Schedule regular replacement as the membranes degrade to prevent costly system teardowns.

I recommend: Larox produces industrial filters under the brand names Larox, Ceramec, Hoesch, Pannevis, Scanmec and Scheibler. Sybron Chemicals, a LANXESS company, produces what it considers to be the strongest membrane in the industry, used in producing organic acids, recovering metals from electroplating and metal finishing baths, and electrocoating for both anionic and cationic paint systems.

Upgrade your current ion separation equipment with a new, improved system

If you have an older or less efficient ion exchange system obtain bids from ion exchange equipment manufacturers for a complete system to ensure compatibility between the equipment used in the ion exchange process and the resins used in the machinery.

I recommend: Remco Engineering manufactures entire ion exchange systems for wastewater recovery, groundwater remediation, water softening and heavy metal recovery or recycling. Res-Kem supplies a full spectrum of equipment and supplies, from entire systems to individual batches of resin for your water filtration needs. Altair Equipment Company (AECO) specializes in refurbishing and upgrading existing systems.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take advantage of free ion exchange design software from Purolite, called PureDesign, that allows you to design and simulate an Ion Exchange Plant.