STRONG ACID CATION RESIN

Operating capacity verses Regeneration level:

(Na = 40 %, Alkalinity = 50 %)
Regeneration level
(Kg of HCl / M3 of resin
Exchange Capacity
Kg CaCO3 / M3 of Resin
Co – Current
Counter Current
50
46
55.2
60
51
59.5
70
55
63.36
80
58.5
66.72
90
61.5
69.12
100
64
71.52
110
66.5
73.44
120
68.5
75.36
STRONG BASE ANION RESIN
Operating capacity verses Regeneration level :
(SO4 = 25 %, CO2 = 20 %, Silica = 25 %)
Regeneration level
(Kg of NaOH / M3 of resin
Exchange Capacity
Kg CaCO3 / M3 of Resin
Co – Current
Counter Current
40
26.2
30.2
50
27.6
32.2
60
29.4
34.0
70
31.3
35.4
8
33.6
36.8
100
36.3
38.2
120
38.2
39.1

Counter-current regeneration systems provide a water quality of better than 2µ S/cm and residual silica of

0.020 to 0.050 mg/l as SiO2. Depending upon water composition and regeneration conditions, the specific

conductivity could be as low as 0.2µ S/cm. The normal counter-current endpoint is 4µ S/cm conductivity.

28

A maximum endpoint value of 0.3 mg/1 SiO2 above the average leakage should not be exceeded in

order to avoid a high contamination of the polishing resin layer and unacceptably high silica leakage during
subsequent cycles. Silica leakage can be minimized by operating the plant at silica break rather than

conductivity end point. This secures the lowest silica leakage, but at the expense of a 5 – 10 % throughput

reduction.

8.2 SELECTION OF LAYOUT & RESIN TYPES:

The plant configuration will depend on the feed water composition, the water quality required and the

economics of operation. The following general guidelines are given to help in configuration and resin

selection.

(A)[SAC] – [WBA]: This combination of strong acid cation [SAC] and weak base
anion [WBA] resins is used to obtain partially deionized water without removal of
CO2 and SiO2.
(B)[SAC] – [SBA]: The combination of strong acid cation and strong base anion [SBA]
is preferred for treating low mineralized water or for small size plants.
(C)[SAC] – [WBA] – [SBA] : This combination of strong acid cation with weak base

and strong base anions is proven to be an excellent choice for larger plants as it provides an optimum

balance between investment and running cost. It is well suited to treat waters with low alkalinity, when the

FMA (Cl + NO3 + SO4) is typically > 60% of the total anions. The normal end-point for a WBA resin

corresponds to the chloride breakthrough, which means that the downstream SBA resin is only removing

the carbon dioxide and silica ions. This situation generally leads to a big discrepancy between WBA (large)

and SBA (low) volumes.

(D)[WAC] – [SAC] – [SBA]: The use of a weak acid cation [WAC] in front of a strong

anion is preferred with feed waters containing a high proportion of temporary hardness (>60%) and low

FMA. The normal end-point for a WAC resin is 10% alkalinity leak. In this condition, the down-stream

SAC resin should remove the permanent hardness and the monovalent cations. This situation generally

leads to a big discrepancy between WAC (large). This is the ideal combination for high hardness, high

alkalinity and high FMA water, as well as large size plants. Again the cation and anion combinations can

be in single or separate vessels.

29
(E)[WAC] – [SAC] – [WBA] – [SBA]: This is the ideal combination for high hardness,
high alkalinity & high FMA water, as well as large size plants. Again the Cation &
Anion combination can be single or separate vessel.
8.3 ATMOSPHERIC DEGASIFIER:

The decision to install an atmospheric degasifier is based principally on economical considerations.

Removing carbon dioxide before it reaches the anion resins will reduce NaOH chemical consumption

stoichiometrically and this should be balanced against the cost of the degasifier. Generally the economical

balance is not in favor of a degasifier for small plants (up to about 10 m3/h or 50 gpm). For larger plants, if

the total CO2 is greater than 80- 100 mg/1 (ppm), the pay-back time for a degasifier should be short. For

very large plants, the limit can be reduced to 50 mg/l CO2.

8.4 OUTPUT BASED ON WATER QUALITY:

Output of DM plant is depending on water quality, if water quality vary output will also

changed accordingly. So regular monitoring of raw water quality is required and accordingly

output may be calculated.

Some time conductivity of anion remains high since initial stage of service run. This may due

to either CaSO4 precipitation on SAC, Organic fouling & silica deposit on anion resin.