Ion-exchange resins have traditionally been put into columns, through which the contaminated water would be pumped. This method is effective in capturing the target ions in the water, but often cumbersome and can produce unreliable results. This is largely due to the packing of the column, which must be done in a precise way or much of the ion-exchange resin will be bypassed by the water.
The rotating bed reactor is an alternative technology that circumvents the issue of the sensitive loading of ion-exchange resin, while simultaneously offering the opportunity to monitor the results throughout the process. This enables the user to know exactly what the decontamination factor is and to end the treatment once it reaches their target.
In this application note the SpinChem® RBR S100, with a solid phase capacity of 100 L, was used to deionize 7000 L of tap water. The RBR S100 was operating at 160 rpm and filled with 36.5 L of mixed bed ion exchange resin.
The results show that the RBR S100 can efficiently process large liquid volumes. The performance of the RBR remains high even when it is partially filled, which proves the extreme robustness of the RBR technology.
By implementing the rotating bed reactor for your ion removal process, you attain a robust process that is easily deployed and will continue to be effective over time. Reach out to SpinChem today to discuss your particular application.