Tech Fact

DuPont Ion Exchange Resins

Operating Profiles for Ion Exchange Demineralizers

In the day-to-day operation of demineralization systems it is often difficult to

determine the cause of problems which occur. Most of the performance problems in
demineralizers can be attributed to either mechanical, procedural, or chemical
variation. When evaluating the performance of ion exchange systems it is helpful to
have a basic understanding of the anticipated effluent profiles for the various resin
beds in the system.

Figured below are graphs of the effluent characteristics of strong acid cation (SAC)
resin and strong base anion (SBA) resin as would be found in the simplest of
demineralization systems. The SAC is operating in the hydrogen cycle and the SBA is
operating in the hydroxide cycle.

Figure 1 shows the changes in effluent characteristics during the rinse, service cycle,
and exhaustion of the SAC resin. As the SAC resin approaches exhaustion, there will
be an increase in the sodium ion in the effluent. The conductivity of the effluent will
decline as the sodium ion concentration and the corresponding sodium salts
increase. The Theoretical Mineral Acidity is the sum of the chloride, sulfate, and
nitrate ions in the feedwater. Free Mineral Acidity (FMA) is the sum of the chloride,
sulfate, nitrate which are in the acid form, i.e. HCl, H 2SO4, HNO3, respectively. As the
sodium ion increases in the effluent of the SAC resin at exhaustion there will be a
corresponding decrease in FMA.

Figure 1: Typical Effluent Characteristics of SAC Resin

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November 2019
 Figure 2 and Figure 3 depict the changes in effluent quality for SBA resin operated
downstream of a SAC resin. Figure 2 is for systems where the SBA resin exhausts
before the SAC resin. When the SBA resin begins to exhaust there will be an increase
in the effluent silica concentration. Since the silica will exist as silicic acid there will
be a corresponding decrease in effluent pH and an increase in conductivity as the
SBA exhausts.

Figure 3 shows the effluent characteristics of SBA resin in systems where the SAC
resin exhausts before the SBA resin. In this case there will be an increase in the
sodium ion concentration which will exist as sodium hydroxide. The increasing
concentration of sodium hydroxide will elevate the pH, conductivity, and alkalinity
concentration in the SBA effluent. There will also be an increase in the silica leakage
due to the regeneration effect of the increasing sodium hydroxide.

Figure 2: Typical Effluent Characteristics of SBA Resin when SBA Exhausts

Figure 3: Typical Effluent Characteristics of SBA Resin when SAC Exhausts

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November 2019
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Please note that physical properties may vary depending on certain conditions and while operating conditions stated in this
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November 2019