EKB 3143:SEPARATION PROCESSES

CHAPTER 2: ION EXCHANGE

PREPARED BY: ARASU UTTRAN

Definition: A reversible chemical reaction where an ion
from a solution is exchanged for a similarly charged ion
attached to an immobile solid particle
 INTRODUCTION
Ion exchange is like an adsorption phenomenon where
the mechanism of adsorption is electrostatic.
Electrostatic forces hold ions to charged functional
groups on the surface of the ion exchange resin.
The adsorbed ions replace ions that are on the resin
surface on a 1:1 charge basis.
 General ion exchange reactions and regeneration reactions:

CATION EXCHANGE ANION EXCHANGE

Hydrogen cycle exchange Salt Splitting

Sodium Cycle Exchange Acid Removal

 Hydrogen cycle exchange
Exchange
2
M 2H Ex M Ex 2 2H
Regeneration
M 2+ 2H 2H+ 2M

M 2+ 2H Ex 2H+ 2M Ex

M 2+ 2H 2H+ 2M

M2+ = metal cation (also M3+or M+) Ex = exchanger solid matrix

A large excess of H+ ions are provided for regeneration by a strong acid

solution (2% to 10% by weight) usually H2SO4 or HCl.
Sodium Cycle Exchange: Water softening
Exchange
2
M 2Na Ex M Ex 2 2Na
Regeneration
M 2+ 2Na 2Na+ 2M

M 2+ 2Na Ex 2Na+ 2M Ex

M 2+ 2Na 2Na+ 2M

An excess of Na+ ions are provided for regeneration via a concentrated

NaCl brine (2% to 10% by weight).
 Salt Splitting
Exchange
NaCl Ex OH Regeneration Ex Cl NaOH
NaCl OH NaOH Cl

NaCl OH Ex NaOH Cl Ex

NaCl OH NaOH Cl

A large excess of OH- ions are provided for regeneration using

a concentrated NaOH solution (2% to 10% by weight).
 Acid Removal
Exchange
HCl Re OH Re Cl H 2O
Regeneration

HCl OH H2O Cl

HCl OH Ex H2O Cl Ex

HCl OH H2O Cl

A large excess of OH- ions are provided for regeneration using

a concentrated NaOH solution (2% to 10% by weight).
 Application: Water softening
Hardness in water, caused by calcium and magnesium
ions, which form insoluble compounds, is removed by
ion exchange
Hard water is filtered through an artificial zeolite (cation
exchange resin) , such as Permutite.
The sodium in the zeolite replaces the undesirable ions
that are in the water.
The positively charged ions in solution such as Ca2+
diffuse into the pores of the solid and exchange with the
Na+ ions in the mineral.
When the zeolite is saturated with these metallic ions, it
is washed with salt solution, which restores the sodium
 Ion Exchange Media
The ion exchange process depends upon the ability of certain solid
substances (called exchange media) to exchange ions bound to the
surface of the solid with inorganic ions of another species
dissolved in water.
The process must be both selective for the ions to be removed and
reversible.
Once the ion exchange sites on the solid medium have been
exhausted, the medium is removed from service and chemically
regenerated.
 Ion Exchange Media
These resins are generally manufactured by polymerizing
neutral organic molecules such as sytrene (to form
polystrene) and then cross-linked with divinyl benzene (DVB).

Functional groups are then added according to the intended

use. For example the resin can be sulfonated by adding
sulfuric acid.
 Ion Exchange Media TYPE
Natural: Proteins, Soils, Lignin, Coal, Metal oxides, Aluminosilicates
(zeolites) (NaOAl2O3.4SiO2).

Synthetic
Synthetic resins are polymers that are manufactured in the form of pellets or
beads with a size of approximately 0.5 mm.

Zeolite gels and most common -polymeric resins (macroreticular, large pores).

Polymeric resins are made in 3-D networks by cross-linking hydrocarbon

chains. The resulting resin is insoluble, inert and relatively rigid. Ionic
functional groups are attached to this framework.
 APPLICATION
Applications of ion exchange in water & wastewater

Ca, Mg (hardness removal) exchange with Na or H.

Fe, Mn removal from groundwater.
Recovery of valuable waste products Ag, Au, U
Demineralization (exchange all cations for H all anions
for OH)
Removal of NO3, NH4, PO4 (nutrient removal).
 APPLICATION
Industrial Applications of Ion Exchange

Water softening

Recovery of antibiotics/vitamin from

fermentation broth

Decolourisation of sugar
 ADVANTAGES
Increased value of a product because of improved
properties.
Recovery of valuable components
Recovery of water for re-use
Better quality control due to elimination of
process variability.
Reduced waste disposal costs due to elimination
of objectionable components or reduced volume.
Reduction of corrosion or scaling in subsequent
equipment
 DISADVANTAGES
Capital cost of equipment.
Resin costs which may be either capitalised or
expensed depending on resin life.
Cost of chemical regenerants.
Operating labour.
Disposal costs for regenerant wastes
 EQUILIBRIUM RELATIONS
Based on selectivity coefficient
For the exchange of A+ in solution for B+ on the resin

A BB A
The barred terms indicate location on the resin (resin phase) as opposed
to solution phase. For this exchange an operational equilibrium
constant can be defined as

[A][ B ]
K A
B

[A ][ B]
The superscript is the reactant side and the subscript is the
product side of the exchange reaction
 FACTORS which affect the selectivity
coefficient
For a given resin type, ion selectivity is a function
of ionic charge and hydrated radius and
functional group-ion chemical interactions. In
most cases the higher the ionic charge the higher
the affinity for a site.
The smaller the hydrated radius of the ion the
greater the affinity. This depends on the %
cross-linkage of the resin.
 TUTORIAL (THEORY)
Define ion exchange [2M]
Discuss CATION ion exchange with aided diagram [8M]
Discuss ANION ion exchange with aided diagram [8M]
Explain BRIEFLY water softening process [5M]
List out FIVE (5) applications of ion exchange.
List out FIVE (5) advantages and disadvantages of ion
exchange.
Discuss the factors that effect the selectivity
coefficients [4M]
ANY QUESTIONS ????