Training

MAKE UP DEMINERALIZED
SYSTEM
MIXED-BED POLISHER -
FUNDAMENTALS

2
 Ion Exchange Resins
• Description
– The structure of the resin is a polymer (like all
plastics) with

• fixed ion : permanently attached, cannot be

removed or displaced; it is part of the structure.
• a counterion : mobile and can get into and out of
the resin bead.
Fixed ions ->
sulphonates (SO3–) Polymeric skeleton of the
attached to the resin bead: porous and
skeleton. contains water

Fixed ions ->

quaternary ammonium
(N+R3) attached to the
skeleton.
Mobile ions -> sodium
(Na+) Mobile ions -> Chloride
(Cl-)

schematic cation and anion exchange resin bead.

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 Ion Exchange Resins
• Type of counterion
Resin in “Na+ form” Resin in “Cl- form”

Resin in “H+ form” H+ H+ OH- Resin in “OH- form”

OH-
H+ OH-
H+
H+ OH- OH-
H+ OH -

H +
OH-

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 Ion Exchange Resins
• Principles of Ion Exchange Resin -
Saturation
Cation resin

2 R’H + Ca++  R’2Ca + 2 H+

R’H + Na+  R’Na + H+

R’ = Cation Exchange Resin

Anion resin
OH-
R’’OH + Cl–  R’’Cl + OH– OH-
SO4
2-
OH-
2 R’’OH + SO42-  R’’2SO4 + 2 OH–
OH- OH-
R’’ = Anion Exchange Resin OH -

OH-

Cl-
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 Ion Exchange Resins
• Principles of Ion Exchange Resin -
Saturation
Exhausted resin beads

H+ + OH–  H2O

H+ OH-

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 Ion Exchange Resins
• Principles of Ion Exchange Resin -
Regeneration
H+ H+
Cation resin – Regeneration HCl or H2SO4
H+
H+
R Ca + 2 HCl  2 R’H + Ca + 2 Cl
’
2
++ - H+
R’Na + HCl  R’H + Na+ + Cl- H+
H +

R’ = Cation Exchange Resin

Anion resin – Regeneration NaOH
OH-
OH-
R’’Cl + NaOH R’’OH + Cl –
OH-
R’’2SO4 + 2 NaOH – 2 R’’OH + SO42- + Na+
OH- OH-
OH -
R’’ = Anion Exchange Resin OH-

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 MB Fundamentals
• Types of Mixed Bed:
Raw water
RO permeate Mixed-Bed

Working MB
Raw water Thermal
Mixed-Bed
desalination

Primary
Raw water
demineralizatio Mixed-Bed
n

Raw condensate
Mixed-Bed

Pure water
Mixed-Bed
 MB Fundamentals
• Resin cannot be regenerated in the mixed state

• Must be first separated

• Separation and mixing step are critical

• Level of cation / middle collector is very important to limit the cross-

contamination
– Avoid NaOH going on Cation resin (saturation with Na)
– Avoid H2SO4 going to Anion resin (Saturation with SO4)
 MB Fundamentals
2. Alternate regeneration –
• Types of regeneration downflow acid

3. Alternate regeneration –
upflow acid

1. Simultaneous
regeneration
 Simultaneous regeneration
It is the most used procedure:

• Lower regeneration duration

• Less demin water consumption
(no blockage water needed)

• BUT
• Local high temperature (acid/caustic mixture)
• Local degradation of the resins
 MB Operating sequences
• Production
Raw water Production
Stop
Backwash /
Separation

Max pressure 150 - 200 kPa Settling

Dissolved salt
drop
résidual Acid Caustic
Batch volume Depend on regeneration
the raw water
Slow rinse
quality
Partial drainage

Air mixing

Filling

Fast rinsing

Control:
Treated volume
Conductivity
Na+
SiO2
 MB Operating sequences
• Stop STOP

Production
Stop
Backwash /
Separation

Settling
Acid and Caustic
regeneration

Slow rinse
Partial drainage

Air mixing

Filling

Fast rinsing

Control:
 Treated volume
 Conductivity
 Na+
 SiO2

1
4
 MB Operating sequences
• Backwash / Separation
Production
Stop
Backwash /
Separation
Settling
Acid and Caustic
regeneration
Slow rinse
Partial drainage

Air mixing

Filling

Fast rinsing

Raw water

1
5
 MB Operating sequences
• Settling
Production
Stop
Backwash /
Separation
Duration 10 minutes Settling
=> Visible cross-contamination Acid and Caustic
must be completely absent or regeneration
negligible
Slow rinse

SBA Partial drainage

Air mixing

SAC Filling

Fast rinsing

1
6
 MB Operating sequences
• Caustic regeneration
NaOH Production
50% NaOH 4%
Demin water Stop
Backwash /
Separation

Settling

NaOH 4 – 5% Acid Caustic

concentration regeneration

Acid 4 – 5% OH- Slow rinse

concentration
Partial drainage

Anion fort Air mixing

Filling
H+
Cation fort Fast rinsing

H2SO4 10%

Demin water H2SO4 !! H2SO4 must not be in contact with

98% anion resins (contamination of the
anion resin with SO42-)!!

1
7
 MB Operating sequences
• Slow rinse - caustic
Production
Stop
Backwash /
Demin water Separation

Settling
Acid and Caustic
regeneration

Slow rinse
Partial drainage

Air mixing

Anion fort Filling

Fast rinsing

Cation fort

Demin water

1
8
 MB Operating sequences
• Partial drainage
Production
Stop
Backwash /
Separation

Settling
Acid and Caustic
regeneration

Slow rinse
Partial
Partial drainage
drainage
Air mixing

Anion fort Filling

Fast rinsing

Cation fort

1
9
 MB Operating sequences
• Air mixing
Production
Stop
Backwash /
Separation

Settling
Acid and Caustic
regeneration

Slow rinse

Partial drainage

Air mixing
Anion fort
Filling

Fast rinsing
Cation fort

Air 2
0
 MB Operating sequences
• Filling
Production
Stop
Backwash /
Eau déminée Separation

Settling
Acid and Caustic
regeneration

Slow rinse
Partial drainage

Air mixing

Filling

Fast rinsing

2
1
 MB Operating sequences
• Fast rinsing
Production
Stop
Raw water
Backwash /
Separation

Settling
Acid and Caustic
Flow rate Service flow regeneration
rate
Slow rinse - acid
Duration Until required
effluent quality Partial drainage
is obtained
Air mixing

Filling

Fast rinsing

End of regeneration if
Conductivity < 0,1
2
µS/cm 2
 Neutralization of regeneration
effluent
• Neutral = pH between 6 and 9
• Adjusting the quantity of each regenerant
to obtain a neutral regeneration waste
Excess Excess Excess Excess
Excess Excess
H+ OH- H+ OH-
OH- H+
CO2 +
Total acid (eq)

Total NaOH (eq)

Total NaOH (eq)

CO2 +

Total NaOH (eq)

SiO2
Total acid (eq)

CO2 +

Total acid (eq)

SiO2
SiO2
Anion
Cation Anion Cation load
Cation
load load load Anion
load
load

Excess caustic Excess acid

Self neutralized Add acid Add NaOH

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