The mixed-bed ion exchange performance at ultralow concentrations 1. Variable feed concentration and incomplete mixing of resins

Abstract

Experimental data were obtained to evaluate the performance of mixed-bed ion exchange for the cases of variable feed concentration and incomplete mixing of anion and cation resins observed in large scale industrial units. For variable feed concentration, step changes in feed concentration were arbitrarily introduced into a test column. For incomplete mixing, only anion resin was loaded in the upper 20% of the column and more cation resin in the lower portion. Feed concentrations of 5.0× 10−5−2.0×10-4 M NaCl were used for the experiments, with flow rates of 0.665-7.0 ml/sec. The effluent from the column was collected periodically and analyzed using on-line/off-line ion chromatography. The step changes in feed concentration affect the breakthrough times of sodium and chloride. Sodium breakthrough curve is more sensitive to the step changes than chloride breakthrough curve. With the same volumes of cation and anion resins, incomplete mixing of resins increases the cation exchange rate slightly and decreases the anion exchange rate slightly. As the cation resin volume increases, the effect of the incomplete mixing of resins decreases. The breakthrough curves of both ions, plotted as the ratio of effluent to the influent concentration versus run time in hour, give some detailed results about the effects of the conditions.