WATER SOFTENING METHODS

Removal of hardness producing substances from hard

water is called softening process.

Two important methods: Lime soda process and ion

exchange process.

Ion exchangers can be by Zeolite or organic polymer

resins.
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS

Principle: Ion exchange is a reversible chemical

reaction where an ion from solution is
exchanged for a similarly charged ion attached
to an immobile solid particle.

These solid ion exchange particles are either

naturally occurring inorganic zeolites or
synthetically produced organic resins.
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS

Zeolites are sodium aluminosilicates with

crystalline structures that form a framework with
cavities and channels inside where cations, water
and/or small molecules may reside. They are often
also referred to as molecular sieves. Synthetically
prepared zeolites are called Permutits, so also
called permutit process.
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS
Ion exchange resins are polymers that are capable of
exchanging particular ions within the polymer with ions
in a solution that is passed through them.

They are the predominant type used today because their

characteristics can be tailored to specific applications.

They may also remove varying amounts of other

inorganic pollutants such as metals, but they will not
remove organic chemicals, pathogens or particles.

Water softener units work most efficiently with

particulate-free water.
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS
• It is a reversible chemical reaction where an ion from solution
is exchanged for a similarly charged ion attached to an
immobile solid particle.

• Ion exchange resins are insoluble, cross linked, long chain

organic polymers with a microporous structure containing
exchangeable ions . These ions are exchanged with ions in hard
water which come in contact with them.

• Resin contains functional groups attached to their chains

which are responsible for the ion exchange property. The
process is also called demineralisation or deionisation since all
cations and anions are removed completely.
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS
Ion-exchange resins are classified into two:
i) Cation Exchange Resin
When styrene divinyl benzene is subjected to sulphonation or
carboxylation, they become capable of exhanging their H+ ions
with cations in the water sample. These resins contain acidic
functional groups like –SO3H, -COOH or –OH (phenolic), and
since they exchange their cation portion they are called cation
exchangers.
Hard water is first passed through the cation
exchange column, so that, all the cations present in
hard water ( Ca2+ ,Mg2+ , etc. ) are exchanged with
H+ ions from the column.
2R−H+ + Ca2+ → R2Ca + 2H+
2R−H+ + Mg2+ → R2Mg + 2H+
The water coming out from the column will be
acidic due to the presence of H+ ions.
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS
ii) Anion Exchange Resin
When styrene divinyl benzene or amine formaldehyde
copolymers containing functional groups such as amino,
quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary
sulphonium groups are treated with dil.NaOH, they become
capable of exchanging their OH- ions with anions present in the
water. Thus they are termed as anion
After treating the hardexchangers.
water with cation exchange resin, it
is passed through anion exchange column, so that all the
anions ( SO 4 2−, Cl− etc. ) present in the water are
removed.
An equivalent amount of OH− ions are released to the
water from the column.
2R-OH− + Cl− −→ 2RCl + 2OH−
2R-OH− + SO 4 2− −→ R2SO4 + 2OH−
H+ and OH− ions liberated from the cation and anion
exchangers respectively, combine together to produce
water molecule.
H+ + OH− → H2O Thus, water coming out of the
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS
Regeneration : The exchangers are said to be exhausted, when
they stop exchanging H+ and OH− ions.
The exhausted cation exchange column can be regenerated
by passing a solution of dil HCl or dil H2SO4 .
The reaction is given by, R2Ca + 2H+ → 2R−H+ + Ca2+
This column is washed with de-ionized water to take away the
SO 4 2− , Cl− etc and drained.
The exhausted anion exchange column is regenerated by
passing a solution of dil NaOH.
The reaction is given by, R2SO4 + 2OH− → 2R-OH− + SO 4 2−
The column is also washed with deionised water to remove
Na+ and drained .
Thus, regenerated ion exchange resins can be used again.
 ION EXCHANGE PROCESS
Advantages
1. It can be used to soften even acidic or alkaline waters.
2. Treated water has residual hardness of 2 ppm only and hence it is
desirable for use in high- pressure boilers.
3. No sludge is formed .
4. The resins can be regenerated and reused.
5. The deionised water has very low conductivity (< 3µScm−1),
Hence can be used in Lead acid battery.
Disadvantages
1. Equipment and chemicals used are costly.
2. Turbidity in water lowers the efficiency of softening. So, turbidity
must be below 10ppm.
3. If the hardness level is more than 100ppm the ion- exchange
method is economically viable only if lime-soda process is
employed prior to ion exchange method.
ION EXCHANGE RESIN PROCESS
ION EXCHANGE RESIN PROCESS