Water Softening
THE ION EXCHANGE PRINCIPLE | ||||||||
| THE ION EXCHANGE COLUMN
The idea of ion exchange is not new. Scientists have been aware
of the principle for a long time.
However, it has only been since the start of the present
century that the principle has been put to practical use.
One area in which it has been highly effective has been
in the treatment of water for removal of hardness minerals and certain other contaminants.
Ion exchange is the process through which ions in a
solution are transformed to a solid which release ions of a different type but
of the same polarity.
This means that the ions in solutions are replaced by
different ions originally present in the solid.
The physical separation process in which the ions
exchanged are not chemically altered.
Water that contains calcium and magnesium ions is also
known as “hard water”. Hard water not only has an unappealing taste and odor,
but it can also be unhealthy for you to drink.
Hard water can cause scale build up inside your water
appliances and decrease the life expectancy of these appliances. One of the
most commonly known ways to treat hard water is to use an ion exchange water
conditioner.
HARD WATER ENTERING SOFTENER
All recognized household water softening equipment now on the market makes use
of the ion exchange principle.
Equipment
using this principle contains a bed of permanent bead-like or granular
softening material through which the water flows.
As the
water travels through the bed of ion exchange material, the hardness minerals
are removed, leaving the water soft and more satisfactory for household use.
The
granules or particles of ion exchange material in a softener are referred to as
the bed.
The ion
exchange material (usually resin beads or granules) consists of permanent
insoluble cations, kept electrically neutral by replaceable sodium cations.
Hard water
contaminated with calcim and magnesium ions enters the exchange column or
bed. As it flows through it, the magnesium and calcium ions in the water are
drawn to the cations of the ion exchanger.
The ion
exchanger has a greater affinity for the calcium and magnesium ions than for
the sodium ions.
Therefore,
the calcium and magnesium ions are absorbed, and a chemically equivalent number
of sodium ions is released into the water.
Thus,
water containing the ions of calcium bicarbonate when it enters, contains the
ions of sodium bicarbonate as it leaves the ion exchanger bed. In brief,
harmless sodium ions have replaced the trouble producing hardness ions.
Ion
exchange occurs literally billions of times between the material in the
exchange column and the minerals in the water as softening proceeds.
Water
softening is one option for the homeowner to treat water problems. Calcium and
magnesium decreases the effectiveness of water appliances by causing a
film-like scale buildup.
For
example, have you ever noticed white scale build up on the insides of your
water kettle?
This layer
is a buildup of calcium and magnesium, which will actually cause the kettle to
use more energy to heat the water because of the thickened layer.
This
similar buildup occurs on the insides of your other home appliances, water pipes,
washing machine, etc.
Water
softening is an effective method to reduce calcium and magnesium from the
water.
When
selecting a water softener it should be based on water analysis and assessment
of the individual homeowner’s need.
This is
mainly determined by the levels of hardness in your water as well as the
average amount of water consumption in your household.
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Does The Total Dissolved
Solids (TDS) Affect The Taste Of Water?
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