Study of a new process for the efficient regeneration of ion exchange resins

• A novel process of ion exchange regeneration was developed and evaluated.
• Thermal regeneration may be linked to resin configurational changes.
• Ammonium bicarbonate solutions form the basis of reversible regeneration systems.

Mixed bead resins comprising weakly acidic (carboxylic acid) and weakly basic (tertiary amine) groups were produced with properties similar to the thermally regenerable Sirotherm resin. This resin typically had a capacity of about 0.5 mmol NaCl per gram and the sorption isotherm was found to be consistent with the Langmuir equation. The resin could be partially regenerated by heat (80%) and water washing (40%) as the ion sorption capacity was much reduced on heating to 80 °C. However, the resin could be completely regenerated by a combination of heat and pre-washing with concentrated ammonium bicarbonate solution. On heating to 60 °C or more the bicarbonate salt completely decomposes and can be removed from the resin as carbon dioxide and ammonia gases. These initial results suggest that this type of ion exchange resin could be used in a continuous process where the regeneration salt (ammonium bicarbonate) is thermally decomposed, collected and re-used to improve the efficiency of regeneration.

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