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Water Softening Systems

Water softening systems remove hardness-causing ions like calcium and magnesium from water. These ions cause scaling in pipes and equipment. There are several methods for water softening including ion exchange resins, lime softening, chelating agents, distillation, and reverse osmosis. Ion exchange uses resins that trap hardness ions and release softer ions. Lime softening uses calcium hydroxide to precipitate out hardness through chemical reactions. Chelating agents, distillation, and reverse osmosis also work to separate out hardness ions from water.

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46 views1 page

Water Softening Systems

Water softening systems remove hardness-causing ions like calcium and magnesium from water. These ions cause scaling in pipes and equipment. There are several methods for water softening including ion exchange resins, lime softening, chelating agents, distillation, and reverse osmosis. Ion exchange uses resins that trap hardness ions and release softer ions. Lime softening uses calcium hydroxide to precipitate out hardness through chemical reactions. Chelating agents, distillation, and reverse osmosis also work to separate out hardness ions from water.

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Water softening systems

Hardness in water is caused by certain salts. The main hardness causing ions are Calcium (Ca 2+), Magnesium (Mg2+) and
Bicarbonate (HCO3-).These ions or minerals are normally addressed as scale in the water causing scaling of pipes and
equipment in drinking water and process water systems.
Softening units offer a water purification solution for hard water and lime scale removal.

REFEENCE: https://www.lenntech.com/processes/softening/softening.htm#ixzz5T13RzJ80

TREATMENT PRINCIPLES
Ion-exchange resin method
An ion-exchange resin or ion-exchange polymer is a resin or polymer that acts as a medium for ion exchange. It is
an insoluble matrix (or support structure) normally in the form of small (0.25–0.5 mm radius) micro beads, usually
white or yellowish, fabricated from an organic polymer substrate. The beads are typically porous, providing a
large surface area on and inside them. The trapping of ions occurs along with the accompanying release of other ions,
and thus the process is called ion exchange.

Lime softening
Lime softening, also known as Clark's process,[1] is a type of water treatment used for water softening which uses the
addition of limewater (calcium hydroxide) to remove hardness (calcium and magnesium) ions by precipitation.
Chelating agents
Chelators are used in chemical analysis, as water softeners, and are ingredients in many commercial products such
as shampoos and food preservatives. Citric acid is used to soften water in soaps, personal care products and laundry
detergents.
Distillation and rain water
Since Ca2+ and Mg2+ exist as non-volatile salts, they can be removed by distilling the water. Rainwater is soft because it
is naturally distilled during the water cycle of evaporation, condensation and precipitation.[10]
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) takes advantage of hydrostatic pressure gradients across a special membrane. The membrane
has pores large enough to admit water molecules for passage; hardness ions such as Ca 2+ and Mg2+ the resulting soft
water supply is free of hardness ions without any other ions being added.

REFERENCE: ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_softening

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