The demand for ion exchange resin in the water treatment field is very large, accounting for about 90% of the total production of ion exchange resin, used for the removal of various cations and anions in water. So why does ion exchange resin lose its strength?
The main reasons for the loss of ion exchange resin strength are as follows:
(1) Ion exchange resin is decomposed by strong oxidants, thereby reducing its strength. This situation mostly occurs in the case of cation resin, for example, due to excessive residual chlorine in the feedwater, but anion resin is also degraded by severe organic pollution, affecting its strength.
(2) Ion exchange resin is damaged by repeated mechanical friction, such as frequent backwashing, rapid hydraulic transport, excessive exchange flow rate, air and ultrasonic scrubbing, etc., affecting its strength.
(3) Due to the operation of ion exchange resin under high pressure and high flow rate conditions, the inlet and outlet pressure difference is too large, causing the resin to be squeezed and broken, thereby losing its strength.
(4) Due to excessive volume expansion during operation, for example, excessive expansion speed and volume during resin transformation, repeated expansion and contraction cause the resin strength to decrease.
(5) The thermal stability of the resin is poor, and the water temperature is too high during use, for example, the temperature of condensate recovery water is higher, which often causes the resin to break, thereby reducing its strength.
(6) Due to improper storage of resin, loss of water and drying, it will swell and crack once it comes into contact with water; or the environment is dirty; or the ambient temperature is below 0°C. The resin will swell and crack due to the freezing of water inside, causing the strength of the resin to decrease.
This is the reason why the strength of ion exchange resin has decreased. Currently, the largest consumption of ion exchange resin is in the purification of pure water in thermal power plants, followed by atomic energy, semiconductor, and electronic industries.
