Ion-exchange resins are widely used in different seperation, purification, and decontamination processes. The most common examples are water softening and water purification.
Water Softening
ion-exchange resins are used to replace the magnesium and calcium ions found in hard water with sodium ions. When the resin is fresh, it contains sodium ions at its active sites. When in contact with a solution containing magnesium and calcium ions (but a low concentration of sodium ions), the magnesium and calcium ions preferentially migrate out of solution to the active sites on the resin, being replaced in solution by sodium ions. This process reaches equilibrium with a much lower concentration of magnesium and calcium ions in solution than was started with idealized image of water-softening process, involving replacement of calcium ions in water with sodium ions donated by a cation-exchange resin
The resin can be recharged by washing it with a solution containing a high concentration of sodium ions (e.g. it has large amounts of common salt (NaCl) dissolved in it). The calcium and magnesium ions migrate from the resin, being replaced by sodium ions from the solution until a new equilibrium is reached. The salt is used to recharge an ion-exchange resin, which itself is used to soften the water.
Purification
In this application, ion-exchange resins are used to remove poisonous (e.g. copper) and hazardous metal (e.g. lead or cadmium) ions from solution, replacing them with more innocuous ions, such as sodium and potassium.
Few ion-exchange resins remove chlorine or organic contaminants from water – this is usually done by using an activated coconut carbon filter mixed in with the resin.
Titan Water Softener/Conditioners
At Titan Water Solutions we use a Premium Restaruant Grade 10% Cross Link Ion Exchange Resin. Most companies use a soft 6% or 8% basic resin. Our Premium 10% cross linked resin simply has a longer life and is more chemical and chlorine resistant. Our Premium Resin provides a high purity, premium cation resin designed for the treatment of foods, beverages, potable waters, and water used in the processing of food. Our resin is a high grade resin which complies with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) CFR 21, Title 173.25 for use in the treatment of foods for human consumption. NSF/ANSI Standard 44 & 61 Certified.