Dealkalization Unit Services
A dealkalizer works similar to a water softener, in that it utilizes ion exchange to remove unwanted ions from a water supply. However, rather than removing calcium and magnesium ions, dealkalization removes carbonate ions, exchanging them for chloride ions.
Dealkalization Unit In service operation, water is normally pumped through the resin bed, which is retained within a pressure vessel. The vessel has top and bottom distribution/collection systems designed to ensure the water passes evenly through the ion exchange bed. As the water passes through the resin, the cations associated with the bicarbonate (alkalinity) — usually calcium and magnesium — are exchanged with hydrogen ions.
In most naturally occurring waters, the combined calcium and magnesium levels (total hardness), are greater than the level of bicarbonate present, where all species are expressed as calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ). This is ideal for removing temporary hardness and bicarbonate efficiently. However, in some cases, bicarbonate alkalinity is higher than total hardness, indicating the presence of sodium alkalinity. When sodium alkalinity occurs, the hardness alkalinity ratio is noticeably less than 1, and the capacity of a weak acid cation resin falls dramatically, making it a less attractive process.
Advantages
- This method of Alkalinity removal removes Alkalinity as well as Calcium & Magnesium ions associated with alkalinity which results in a reduction of dissolved salts.
- Alkalinity in the treated water remains consistent throughout the cycle.
