What is an ion exchange process ?
Ion Exchange is a process that removes detrimental ions from water and replaces them with less damaging ions. In practice ion exchange occurs between water containing ions and an insoluble ion exchange bead with ion exchange properties. Ion exchange can only take place between ions of the same charge namely anions for anions and cations for cations. Anion exchange resins have positively (+) charged exchange sites with anions attached. Cations -exchange resins have negatively (-) charged exchange sites with cations attached. In typical water supplies, the ion exchange resin is more selective for divalent (two positive or negative charges) and trivalent (three positive or negative charges) than monovalent ions. The ion exchange performance is largely dependent on the density of the beads, mechanical resistance, the grain size, the total capacity, break through capacity, porosity of a system, flow, rate, selectivity and the rate of exchange. Why we have to remove ions ? The dissolved salt
