Ion exchange technology: principles and progress in materials development

Abstract

Ion exchange technology is one of the most effective treatment methods for water and wastewater that been employed in various industries for many years. Today ion exchange processes are successfully applied for desalination of both sea water and brackish water, softening hard water, treating industrial effluents for removal of heavy metals, dyes, nitrates, ammonia and fluoride and dealkalization. In spite of ion exchange technology advanced stage of development, various aspects remain a subject of intensive investigations in many institutes to bring about new functional materials that can tolerate various operating conditions to improve its efficiency and economy of its applications. The objective of this chapter is to review the current status of the development in ion exchange materials and their applications in the field of water and waste water treatment. A brief encounter of the basic fundamentals of ion exchange processes including mechanism, types of ion exchange resins and systems, configurations and mode of operation are also illustrated.