WATER TREATMENT
AND ANALYSIS
2. Zeolite (or Permutit) Process: are hydrated sodium alumino
Silicate
Na2O. Al2O3 xSiO2 yH 2O (x = 2-10, y = 2-6 )
- Capable of exchanging its Na ions.
A. Natural Zeolite:-
Natrolite - Na2O. Al2O3 4SiO2.2H 2O are non porous in nature.
B. Synthetic Zeolite: -
• Porous in nature and possess gel structure.
• Prepared heating china clay, faldspar and soda ash.
• Higher exchange capacity per unit weight than natural zeolite.
Process:
• Consist of Steel Tank
• Having Thick Layer of Zeolite
• When water pass through it hardness causing ions
(Ca, Mg) are retained by Zeolite.
Chemical Reaction:
Ca(HCO3) 2 + Na2 Ze → CaZe + 2 NaHCO3
CaSO4 + Na2Ze → CaZe + Na2SO4
MgCl 2 + Na2Ze → MgZe + 2NaCl
Mg (NO3)2 + Na2Ze → MgZe + 2NaNO3
• Exchange of Na ions continues until Na ions are exhausted
Regeneration:
CaZe + 2NaCl → Na2Ze + CaCl 2
MgZe + 2NaCl → Na2Ze + MgCl 2
CaCl 2 and MgCl 2 led to drain and Na2Ze can be reused.
Limitations of zeolite process:
1. Water should be free from turbidity, otherwise it will clog the pores of zeolite bed.
2. If water contains colored ions (Mn2+ and Fe2+) produces Mg and Fe zeolites which
can not be easily regenerated.
3. Mineral acids destroy the zeolite bed, so before the zeolites process they must be
neutralize with soda.
Advantages:
4. Hardness can be completely removed and produces 10ppm level hardness.
5. Process can be made automatically
6. Easy operation, less time and sludge.
Disadvantages:
7. Only Ca+ and Mg+ ions can be removed
8. Large amount of Na ions present in treated water.
9. Leaves other acids which causes corrosion
10. Fe 2+ and Mn 2+ containing water can not be treated because Fe and Mn Zeolite
can not be regenerated
11. Water should be free from suspended impurities to prevent clogging on Zeolite
beds.
12. Treated water contains more dissolved solids.
3. Ion Exchange (or) de-mineralization (or) de-ionization Process.
Ion exchange resins are insoluble, cross-linked, long chain organic polymers
with a microporous structure and the functional groups attached to the
chains are responsible for the ion exchanging process.
Acidic functional group (-COOH, -SO3H) Exchange H+ with other cations
Basic functional group (-NH2, =NH) Exchange anions with other anions
1. Cation exchange resins (RH+): Styrene-divinyl benzene copolymers.
2. Anion exchange resins (ROH-):
Process.
Hard water first passed through cation exchange column which
removes cations like Ca2+, Mg2+ etc. and equivalent amount of H+
ions are released.
Then this water passed through anion exchange column, which
removes anions like SO4-, Cl- etc. and equivalent amount of OH-
ions are released.
H+ and OH- ions get combined to produce water molecule. Thus
wtare is free from ion and known as deionized or demineralsed
water.
Regeneration:
● Exhausted cation exchange column: By passing dil. HCl, or H 2SO4
● Exhausted anion exchange column: By passing dil. NaOH
Both column washed with deionised water and regenrerated ion
exchange resins are used again.
● Advantage:
1. Produces soft water of very low hardness (say 2 ppm).
2. Can treat highly acidic or alkaline water
3. Regeneration of ion resins are possible
4. Maintenance cost is low
● Disadvantage:
5. Cost of equipment is high
6. Highly turbid water can not be treated
7. Expensive chemicals are required.
Desalination of brackish water
Desalination : Process of removing common salt from water.
Brackish Water: containing dissolved salts with a peculiar salty (or
brackish) taste and unfit for drinking. e.g. Sea water contain 3.5 % salts.
Commonly used methods for desalination:
1. Electrodialysis
2. Reverse Osmosis
1. Electrodialysis
● Method of separation of ions from salt water by passing electric current.
● Semi permeable membranes are placed
● Consist of three compartments containing
1. Sea Water 2. Pair of electrodes 3. Semi permeable membrane
● As current applied Na ions moves towards cathode and Cl moves
towards anode
● As result brine concentration decreases in the middle compartment.
● Pure water is removed from the central compartment.
● Conc. Brines are replaced by fresh brine water.
● Much more effective separation Ion selective membranes are used
Electrodialysis cell:
International Standards for water
Depends on purpose Standards Set By:
1. WHO- World Health Organization
2. USPHD- United States Health Service
3. ICMR- Indian Council of Medical Research
Water should be free from
4. Turbidity, Colour
5. Taste, Odour
6. Microbes
7. Toxicity (Organic and Inorganic Metals)
