With many water purification technologies available today, there are certain types of water filtration systems that may suit your specific filtration needs, like ion exchange. It’s well-suited for removing selected water contaminants. Ion exchange water filtration systems are technologies designed to treat water through demineralization or water softening. But this filtration system is also used to eliminate contaminants from the water through other processes like deionization, dealkalization, disinfection, and denitrification.
What are Ion-Exchange Water Filtration Systems?
Ion exchange is basically a chemical process in which undesirable dissolved ions in both water and wastewater including, fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, and sulfate are exchanged for ions with the same charge. Ions can be positively charged cations or negatively charged anions. They are molecules or atoms that contain a certain number of electrons that aren’t equal the quantity of protons. Today, ion exchange resins are commonly used as a treatment for drinking water. In some cases, specialized resins are proven effective in treating various water contaminants such as uranium, boron, and perchlorate. Many other types of ion exchange resins are designed for these purposes and they have been tested and proven effective in demineralizing and water softening.
Is ion exchange suitable for you?
Recently, ion exchange process has been recognized as one of the leading water treatment technologies. So if you’re having problem with hard water, this may be a good fit for your needs. It can work pretty well for addressing issues with mineral build-up which causes hard water. The sooner you take action with hard water, the sooner you’ll get a safe and clean water supply. Identifying whether ion-exchange water filtration systems are right for your specific requirements requires careful deliberation and assistance from the pros. Contact us at Charlotte Water Filtration to know if this water treatment technology is right for your residential or commercial space in Charlotte, NC and the nearby areas.
What Does Ion Exchange Filtration Remove?
The purpose of getting a water filtration system is to treat your water and ensure you’re getting a clean and healthy water supply. And when you’re trying to treat water, you can come across several filtration techniques and methods that can effectively eliminate the contaminants. Ion exchange is becoming more and more popular as an active solution for treating drinking water. But to eliminate even more harmful pollutants from drinking water, ion exchange systems have been equipped with unique resins that can treat toxic minerals like perchlorate and uranium. Generally, there are three types of ion exchange resins, and each can remove certain types of contaminants.
- Anionic Resins: Ion exchange systems that use anionic resins can effectively help with demineralization. There are a few contaminants that can be eliminated by anionic resins, such as:
- Nitrates
- Carbonates
- Arsenic
- Chlorides
- Cyanide
- Silica
- Fluoride
- Sulfates
- Uranium
- Cationic Resins: As for cationic resins, they are particularly effective in dealkalization, water softening, and also demineralization. They can remove the following contaminants in your drinking water:
- Manganese
- Sodium
- Iron
- Chromium
- Calcium
- Strontium
- Magnesium
- Specialty Resins: This type of ion exchange resin is commonly utilized for industrial applications, making it more expensive than the other two. Specialty resins are very effective in removing metals from dilute solutions. These metals may include cobalt and mercury. They can also get rid of natural organic matter in feed water.
When dealing with resins, it’s important to note that they should be recharged every once in a while as they get depleted. They only last for a certain period of time. When they’re no longer working properly, you can exchange the resins or recharge your system with sodium chloride, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, or sodium hydroxide. These are potential replacements in case your ion exchange water filtration system runs out of resins. So now that you already know how ion-exchange water filtration systems work, you should be able to understand that any filtration system requires attention and level of maintenance. Especially in areas that are brutally affected by hard water, it’s definitely important to have your ion exchange water filter maintained on a regular basis. Call us at Charlotte Water Filtration for your questions!
Advantages of Ion-Exchange Water Filtration Systems
Ion-exchange water filtration systems are very useful in addressing several water problems, such as scale build-up and hard water. They are cost-effective solutions when you want to completely remove all toxic materials in your drinking water.
Here are other advantages of ion exchange water filtration:
- Addresses scale and hard water with eco-friendly solutions: Your water pipes can be damaged severely due to scale build-up. Meanwhile, hard water can make even the simplest chore difficult, like washing dishes. With these an ion exchange system can help soften the water and remedy your problems. Don’t forget to add salt to its recharge system to keep it functioning properly.
- Produces less wastewater: During the process, ion exchange produces at least 2 to 4% wastewater from the treated water. This is why it’s a cost-effective option, especially in areas with very limited sources of water.
- Helps you build profits out of removing arsenic from water: Arsenic is a challenging contaminant that is hard to remove from any water systems. But, it can be eliminated by ion exchange. With arsenic removal, you can turn your ion exchange water filtration system into a profitable business opportunity. You may consult our experts at Charlotte Water Filtration about how ion exchange can effectively get rid of arsenic from your water supply.
- Removes nitrates and other contaminants in your water: Nitrate is one of the most dangerous contaminants that can be found in your drinking water. Because nitrate has no smell or taste, it can be hard to notice or detect, and you never know whether it’s in your water or not. If not removed, it can cause health risks, especially to infants. Using an ion exchange system makes this contaminant disappear without a trace, giving you safe, clean, and healthy drinking water.
For more information, feel free to call us at Charlotte Water Filtration!
Disadvantages of Ion-Exchange Water Filtration Systems
While there are certain benefits to using ion exchange water filtration systems, there are also some drawbacks that you need to be aware of.
Here are some of the disadvantages of ion exchange systems:
- Ion exchange doesn’t effectively get rid of bacteria or pyrogens:When it comes to water treatment, it’s important that your water filtration system is able to remove not just one but many contaminants in the water. Unfortunately, an ion exchange system is not designed for treating all water problems and contaminants. It doesn’t effectively remove or deactivate algal toxins, bacteria, and protozoa. Also, ion exchange resins aren’t compatible with certain chemical disinfectants.
- Ion exchange water filtration systems don’t eliminate biological contaminants or organic compounds
- They are not capable of removing suspended solids and particles completely.
- They require regular replacement of components.
For ion exchange systems to operate at full efficiency, you need to replace their operational components periodically. On average, ion exchange resins should be replaced every 4 to 10 years. Replacement is necessary because they are susceptible to clogging and scaling, which can compromise their operation and shorten their service life. You may schedule an appointment with our pros to learn how to prevent these issues. We offer pre-treatment measures, including filtration of suspended minerals and solids to help your ion exchange filtration system keep up its optimal performance through time.
Every water filtration system has its pros and cons, so be sure you’re investing your money in the right one. When choosing a water filtration system, it’s best to seek help from professionals to help you narrow down your options. Give us a call at Charlotte Water Filtration to know if an ion exchange water filtration system is suitable for your home. We can assist you in making the right choice for a worthwhile investment.