Ion Exchange Resins for Condensate Water Treatment

During production and conveying, the condensate may be polluted by the following reasons: Silica, additional impurities, TDS and Iron or copper oxides.

Ion exchange resins are commonly employed in condensate treatment systems to remove dissolved ions, particularly those that contribute to water hardness and corrosion. These resins work by exchanging undesirable ions (such as calcium, magnesium, and other contaminants) with less problematic ions like sodium or hydrogen.

Sepurlite supplies various resin types for condensate water treatment application. The ion exchange resins are mainly used in the pre-treatment of condensate water treatment to remove large particles and suspended solids and they can be used in the polishing process (Mixed bed) for further treatment. All of these have excellent performance and long service life. You can choose appropriate cation and anion resins according to your specific conditions.

• Mixed-Bed Resins. The mixed bed contains a mixture of Strong Acid Cation resin (SAC) and Strong Base Anion resin (SBA). The cations in the condensate are removed by exchanged with the cation resins, and the anions are removed by exchanged with the anion resin. They are particularly effective for polishing condensate water to very low conductivity and removing both cations and anions, producing ultra-pure water.

The condensate polishing is mainly completed relying on the ion exchange technology and they can be complete treatment in straight or spherical tank. It can produce qualified water with minimal impurities and almost zero leakage. The ion exchange mixed bed is mainly used in the condensate polishing to remove ion, dissolved carbon dioxide and suspended solids and colloids and other impurities.

There are two mixed bed types: hydrogen-type (H-OH) mixed bed and ammonia-type (NH₄-OH) mixed bed.

Hydrogen-Type (H-OH) Mixed Bed

In this system, the production water is pure water (H₂O) and the pH range is natural or weak acid, which is suitable for nuclear industry and other occasions where natural ultra pure water quality is required.

The R-H represents the cation resins and R-OH represents anion resins, the reactions are as follows:

Cation resins reaction:

R-H + Na⁺(Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺) → R-Na(Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺) + H⁺

Anion resins reaction:

R-OH + Cl^-(SO₄^2-/NO₃^-/HSiO₃^-) → R-Cl(SO₄^2-/NO₃^-/HSiO₃^-) + OH^-

Final reaction:

R-H + R-OH +Na⁺ (Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺) + Cl^-(SO₄^2-/NO₃^-/HSiO₃^-) → R-Na + R-Cl + H₂O

Ammonia-Type (NH₄-OH) Mixed Bed

In this system, the production water is ammonia water (NH₄OH) and the pH range is weak alkali, which can prevent equipment and pipeline from water acid corrosion and it is suitable for boiler water treatment and other occasions where alkali water quality is required.

The R-NH₄ represents the cation resins and R-OH represents anion resins, the reactions are as follows:

Cation resins reaction:

R-NH₄ + Na⁺(Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺) → R-Na(Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺) +NH₄⁺

Anion resins reaction:

R-OH + Cl^-(SO₄^2-/NO₃^-/HSiO₃^-) → R-Cl(SO₄^2-/NO₃^-/HSiO₃^-) + OH^-

Final reaction:

R-NH₄ + R-OH +Na⁺ (Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺) + Cl^-(SO₄^2-/NO₃^-/HSiO₃^-) → R-Na + R-Cl + NH₄OH

Power Industry

• Boiler Water Circulation Systems: Condensate water typically comes from the cooling and condensation of steam turbines. Treating condensate helps improve water quality, prevent scale and corrosion in boilers, and ensure efficient operation of equipment.
• Steam System Recycling: Treated condensate water can be recycled, reducing the need for fresh water and improving overall water reuse in the system.

Chemical Industry

• Reactor Cooling Water: Many chemical processes require cooling, and condensate water is used as one of the cooling media. It often needs to be treated to remove impurities.
• Distillation and Separation Processes: In fine chemicals or petrochemical processes, condensate water may contain organic compounds or other pollutants that need to be treated before discharge or reuse.

Steel Industry

• Smelting and Heat Treatment: In steel plants, large amounts of steam are used for heating and cooling. The dissolved solids and other impurities in the condensate water may affect the quality of cooling water, so it needs treatment to ensure proper system operation.

Pharmaceutical Industry

• Steam Sterilization and Distillation: Steam is commonly used in pharmaceutical plants for sterilization and distillation. Condensate water must meet high purity standards, requiring treatment to remove harmful substances and ensure product quality and sanitary production environments.

Food and Beverage Industry

• Steam Processing and Heat Exchange: Condensate water is used in steam systems for processing in the food and beverage industry. Treated condensate can be reused, reducing water waste and ensuring that water quality does not affect the safety of food products.

Pulp and Paper Industry

• Steam Circulation Systems: In pulp and paper mills, steam is used for drying and heating. Recycling and treating condensate water helps increase energy efficiency and reduce dependence on external water sources.

Construction and HVAC Systems

• Air Conditioning Systems: In large air conditioning and cooling systems, condensate water can be treated and either discharged or reused, preventing environmental pollution.