Chapter 9

Ion Exchange Process

SHAHRUL ISMAIL, Assoc. Professor Ts Dr
Bioprocess & Energy Nexus Group (BioNexG)
Faculty of Ocean Engineering Tech & Informatics, UMT.
Definition and Terminology
Definition: is a unit process in which ions of a given species are displaced from an insoluble
exchange material by ions of a different species in solution.
Ion exchange is an adsorption phenomenon where the mechanism of adsorption is
electrostatic. Electrostatic forces hold ions to charged functional groups on the surface of
the ion exchange resin. The adsorbed ions replace ions that are on the resin surface on a
1:1 charge basis. For example:

Application: The most widespread use of this process is in domestic water softening, where
sodium ions from a cationic-exchange resin replace the calcium and magnesium ions in the
treated water, thus reducing the hardness. Ion exchange has been used in wastewater
application for the removal of nitrogen, heavy metals and total dissolved solids.

Ion-exchange processes can be operated in a batch or continuous mode.

Applications of ion exchange in water & wastewater

• Ca, Mg (hardness removal) exchange with Na or H.

• Fe, Mn removal from groundwater.
• Recovery of valuable waste products Ag, Au, U
• Demineralization (exchange all cations for H all anions for OH)
• Removal of NO3, NH4, PO4 (nutrient removal).
Batch Process = The resin is stirred with the water to be treated in a reactor until
the reaction is complete. The spent resin is removed by settling and subsequently
is regenerated and reuse
Continuous process = exchange material is placed in a bed or a packed column,
and the water is passed through it. Continuous ion exchangers are usually of the
downflow, packed bed column type.
 Ion Exchangers (types)

• Natural: Proteins, Soils, Lignin, Coal, Metal oxides, Aluminosilicates

(zeolites) (NaOAl2O3.4SiO2).

• Synthetic zeolite gels and most common -polymeric resins

(macroreticular, large pores).

Polymeric resins are made in 3-D networks by cross-linking hydrocarbon

chains. The resulting resin is insoluble, inert and relatively rigid. Ionic
functional groups are attached to this framework
These resins are generally manufactured by polymerizing neutral organic
molecules such as sytrene (to form polystrene) and then cross-linked with
divinyl benzene (DVB). Functional groups are then added according to the
intended use. For example the resin can be sulfonated by adding sulfuric acid
to get the structure shown above.
Ion Exchange Resin:
 Resin classification:

Resins are classified based on the type of functional group they contain and
their % of cross-linkages
Cationic Exchangers:
- Strongly acidic – functional groups derived from strong acids e.g., R-SO3H
(sulfonic).

- Weakly acidic – functional groups derived from weak acids, e.g., R-COOH
(carboxylic).
Anionic Exchangers:

- Strongly basic – functional groups derived from quaternary

ammonia compounds, R-N-OH.

- Weakly basic - functional groups derived from primary and

secondary amines, R-NH3OH or R-R’-NH2OH.
Typical Ion Exchange Materials
Exchange Capacity of Ion-Exchange Resin
Exchange capacities vary with the type and concentration of
regenerated used to restore the resin. Typical synthetic resin
exchange capacities are in the range of 2 to 10 eq/kg of resin;
zeolite cation exchangers have exchange capacities of 0.005 to
0.1 eq/kg.
Example-Determination of Ion-Exchange
Capacity for a New Resin
A column study was conducted to determine the capacity of a cation-exchange
resin. In conducting the study, 0.1 kg of resin was washed with NaCl until the resin
was in R-Na form. The column was then washed with distilled water to remove the
chloride ion (Cl-) from the interstices of the resin. The resin was then titrated with
a solution of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and the concentrations of chloride and
calcium were measured at various throughput volumes. The measured
concentrations of Cl- and Ca2+ and the corresponding throughput volumes are as
given below. Using the data below, determine the exchange capacity of the resin
and the mass and volume of a resin required to treat 4000 m3 of water containing
18 mg/L of ammonium NH-4. Assume the density of resin is 700 kg/m3
Example-Determination of Ion-Exchange
Capacity for a New Resin
Throughput volume, L Cl- Ca2+
2 0 0
3 Trace 0
5 7 0
6 18 0
10 65 0
12 71 Trace
20 71 13
26 71 32
28 71 38
32 Co=71 Co=40
Thank You..