Separation Technologies Frequently Asked Questions

Purification, Recovery, Waste Treatment

 
 
 
 Resin conditioning
 Service flow rate
 How to measure a resin volume in a plant?
 What is important to know at the regeneration step?
 What precautions should be taken during prolonged shut down?
 
 
Resin Conditioning
When the resin is in the suitable ionic form, the only necessary conditioning after the loading step is
a backwash with deionized water. Otherwise, the resin is converted into the appropriate ionic form
according to the regeneration instructions given in the product data sheet.
 
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Service flow rate
The service flow rate is fixed based on the performance and the pressure drop limitations. It is
common practice to refer the flow rate in terms of bed volume per hour. The volume of the resin is
called a "bed volume" or "BV". A flow rate of 1 to 20 BV/h can be used in the loading step. Please
consult our product data sheets for recommended operating conditions.
 
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How to measure resin volume in the plant?
The volume of resins should be measured immediately after filling the column, in the ionic form as
delivered, i.e. before regeneration or exhaustion. The volume measurement should be done after
backwashing, settling and draining the bed to the resin surface. The method described here is valid
for ion exchange vessels with freeboard.
 
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What is important to know at the regeneration step?
When the resin is exhausted, the column of resin is regenerated with a particular aqueous solution
of regenerant. Three parameters have to be considered during the regeneration step: the solution
concentration, the volume required and the flow rate through the column.
The chemicals used for regeneration must contain low levels of impurities. Substances that cause
precipitation during regeneration cannot be tolerated. Impurities that dissociate and produce ions
competing with the regenerant ions, i.e. cations other than H+ in the acids and anions other than
OH- in the alkalis, reduce regeneration efficiency and operating capacity, and increase ionic leakage.
Oxidants (mainly Cl2) may deteriorate the resin.
Generally, a concentration of about 1.0N is used. Regeneration should be preceded by backwashing
and followed by rinsing. First, a slow rinsing using deionized water at the same flow rate as the
regenerant solution is employed to remove excess regenerant then a fast rinse, usually at the
service flow rate or at about twice the rate applied for the slow rinse.
 
Please consult our product data sheet for recommended operating conditions for ion exchange
resins and resins with special functional groups.
 
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What precautions should be taken during prolonged shut down?
Resins that have been allowed to dry out may crack or fracture when re-wetted. It is recommended
to avoid dehydrating the resin by filling with deionized water above the resin bed.