Water Softening
Presented by:
Ashutosh Umre (181668)
Naveen Kumar (181661)
A. Chakravarthy (181652)
Sourabh Shukla (181669 )
Contents
• Introduction
• Types of Hardness
• Measurement
• Methods of Removal
• Lime-Soda Process
• Zeolite Process
• Demineralization Process
Introduction
• Reduction or removal of hardness from water is
known as water softening.
• Hardness in water is caused by presence of salts of
divalent metallic ions (Mg2+, Ca2+ , Fe2+, Mn2+ etc.).
• Total hardness (in mg/l as CaCO3) can be given as;
T.H.=xCaCO3
• Carbonate & bicarbonate salts of such metallic ions
can be removed easily thus it is referred as
temporary hardness.
• However, Sulphates (SO42-), chlorides (Cl-) &
nitrates (NO3-) of these ions can not be removed
by simple boiling hence such hardness is referred
as permanent hardness.
• Advantage of softening reduces soap
consumption, reduction in cost of maintaining
plumbing fixtures & improvement in food taste.
• It is mainly important in industries as hard water
cause scaling troubles in boilers & interfere in
working of dyeing systems.
• Desirable limit = 300 mg/l
• Permissible limits = 600 mg/l
• One degree of hardness means soap destroying
power produced by 14.25 mg of which means
CaCO3 in 1 liter of solution.
Types
• Temporary/Carbonate • Permanent/Non-carbonate
• Caused by CO32- & • Caused by SO42- , Cl- & NO3-
HCO32- of Ca2+ and Mg2+. of Ca2+ and Mg2+.
• Can be removed by • Can be removed by special
simple boiling or adding methods like lime-soda
lime. process etc.
Measurement
• EDTA method (by titration)
• Carbonate hardness = Min.
• Non-carbonate hardness = Total hardness in
excess of alkalinity
= Total hardness-Alkalinity
(when T.H. > Alkalinity)
=0
(when T.H. < Alkalinity)
Methods of removal of Hardness
A. Removal of temporary hardness:
1. Boiling:
Ca(HCO3)2 + Heat CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O
• Calcium carbonate is slightly soluble in water but it
usually exists in the form of Calcium bicarbonate.
• But, since carbonate & bicarbonate of Mg2+ are readily
soluble in water hence they can not be easily removed
by simple boiling hence we need to do need to go for
some special treatment methods.
2. Addition of lime:
MgCO₃ + Ca(OH)₂ Mg(OH)₂ + CaCO₃
Mg(HCO₃)₂ +Ca(OH)₂ Ca(HCO₃)₂ + Mg(OH)₂
Ca(HCO₃)₂+Ca(OH)₂ 2CaCO₃ + 2H₂O
B. Removal of permanent hardness:
a. Lime-Soda Process
• Lime Soda process is a method of softening hard
water.
• Useful for the treatment of large volumes of hard
water.
• In this process Calcium and Magnesium ions are
precipitated by the addition of lime (Ca(OH)₂) and soda
ash (Na₂CO₃).
•Structure= water + lime + soda + coagulant
What is Lime Soda Process?
• Standard water-softening process.
• Carried out either hot(heat) or cold(room temp).
• Uses lime {Ca(OH)₂} and soda ash (Na₂CO₃) to reduce the
hardness of the treated water by precipitating the calcium
and magnesium salts.
• As insoluble calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide
respectively(soluble salts to insoluble salts).
Hot and Cold Lime Soda Process
Chemistry of Soda Lime Process
• Hardness have two types 1)temporary 2)permanent
• Removal of temporary hardness of calcium salt (The lime will react with
carbonate hardness as follows):
Ca(OH)₂ + Ca(HCO₃)₂ →2CaCO₃ ↓ +2H₂O
• Removal of temporary hardness of magnesium salt:
Ca(OH)₂ + Mg(HCO₃)₂ →MgCO₃ + CaCO₃ ↓ +2H₂O
• The product magnesium carbonate is soluble. To remove it, more lime is
added:
Ca(OH)₂ + MgCO₃ →CaCO₃ ↓ +Mg(OH)₂ ↓
(for the removal of the magnesium hardness we have to add lime 2 times)
• Removal of the permanent hardness of magnesium salt (magnesium non-
carbonate hardness, such as magnesium sulfate, is removed):
Ca(OH)₂ + MgSO₄ →CaSO₄ + Mg(OH)₂ ↓
Does Lime removes calcium permanent hardness?
• CaSO₄ + Ca(OH)₂ → CaSO₄ +Ca(OH)₂ (we get same product
as reactants)
• i.e. Lime will not remove the permanant calcium hardness.
• What is the function of adding soda (Na₂CO₃) :
Na₂CO₃ + CaSO₄ → Na₂SO₄ + CaCO₃ ↓
• So soda will remove the permanent calcium hardness, so we add
Soda + Lime to remove permanent hardness of calcium
•Lime removes =
1)Temporary hardness of calcium
2) Temporary hardness of magnesium
3)Permanent hardness of magnesium
But , not remove the permanent hardness of calcium so we add soda (soda
removes both Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness)
• Lime and soda not only removes hardness but also some gases, acids and
dissolve salts.
•Lime removes gas:
CO₂ + Ca(OH)₂ →CaCO₃ ↓ +H₂O
•Lime removes minaral acid
Ca(OH)₂ + H₂SO₄ → CaSO₄ + 2H₂O
CaSO4 is the permanent calcium hardness, it will remove by soda
Role of coagulant (NaAlO₂)
• Soluble salts → insoluble precipitate
• Function
small particle →big particle and settle down
• With the help of apparatus we remove the settled particales.
Layout
Limitations of Lime Soda Process
• Lime soda softening cannot produce a water at
completely free of hardness because of minute
solubility of CaCO₃ and Mg(OH)₂.
• Thus the minimum calcium hardness can be achieved
is about 30 mg/L as CaCO₃, and the magnesium
hardness is about 10 mg/L as CaCO₃.
b. Zeolite process
• Zeolite also known as Base exchange or cation
exchange process.
• Zeolites are the natural salts or clays which are
hydrated silicates of Sodium and Aluminium.
• Most common natural zeolite is green sand.
• General formula: Na₂OAl₂O₃.xSiO₂.yH₂O
• Naturally occurring zeolite like substances can also
be manufactured synthetically, and they are known as
RESINS.
• Zeolites or Resins have the excellent property of
exchanging their cations.
• Chemical reactions which may be involved are given
below :-
(HCO₃)₂ (HCO₃)₂
Ca Ca
Na₂Z + SO₄ Na₂ SO₄ + Z
Mg
Cl₂ Mg
Cl₂
Exchange reactions that takes place during regeneration :
Ca Ca
Z + 2NaCl Na₂Z + Cl₂
Mg Mg
Used zeolite Regenerated zeolite
Process :-
• First hard water is percolated at a specified rate through a bed
of zeolite, kept in a cylinder.
• The hardness causing ions (Ca²⁺ ,Mg²⁺ ,etc.) are retained by
the zeolite as CaZ and MgZ ; while the outgoing water contains
sodium salts.
Types of Zeolite
Zeolites are of two types:
1. Natural zeolite :
• Natural zeolite are non-porous , ex.-natrolite
2. Synthetic zeolite :
• Synthetic zeolite are porous and posses get structure.
• They are prepared by heating together china clay , feldspar
and soda ash such zeolites possess higher exchange capacity
per unit weight than natural zeolites.
• Most common synthetic resins is a white coloured
substances, called Permutit
Advantages
1. It removes the hardness almost complete removal
(can reduce up to 10 ppm)
2. Equipment is Compact.
3. No impurities are precipitated, so there is no
danger of sludge formation.
4. The process automatically adjust itself for variation in
hardness of incoming water.
5. It is quite clean.
6. It requires less time for softening.
7. It requires less skill for maintenance as well as
operation.
Disadvantages
1. The treated-water contains more sodium salts than in lime-soda
process.
2. The method only replaces Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺ ions, but leaves all the
acidic ions ( like HCO₃⁻and CO₃²⁻) as such in the softened water.
3. Can not treat high turbidity water efficiently.
4. If water contains large quantities of coloured ions such as
Mn²⁺and Fe²⁺,they must be removed first.
5. Mineral acids, if present in water, destroy the zeolite bed and ,
therefore, they must be neutralized with soda, before admitting the
water to the zeolite softening plant.
c. Demineralization Process
• Demineralization means removing the minerals
from the water.
• The process help us in completely removing or
reducing the mineral content by any desired
extent or even to make mineral free water.
• It is sometimes called de-ionized water.
• It is as pure as distilled water and suitable for
industrial purposes especially for steam raising
in high pressure boilers.
Hydrogen Cation Exchange Resins
• Resins containing acidic functional group (-
COOH,-SO3H) are capable of exchanging their hydrogen
ions with other cations which comes in their contacts,
known as cation exchange resins.
• The chemical formula is RH,
where H represents hydrogen ions ,R is the organic
part of the substance.
• example:-styrene –divinyl benzene copolymer which on
sulphonation and carboxylation becomes capable to
exchange their hydrogen ions with the cations in the
water.
Anion Exchange Resins
• Resins containing basic functional groups are
capable of exchanging their anions with other
anions which comes in their contacts known as
anion exchange resins.
• The chemical formula for such a resins is ROH.
where OH represents hydroxyl ions,R is
organic part of the substance.
ROH +HCL→RCL+HOH
Regeneration of cation exchange resins
• The exhausted cation exchange resins can be
regenerated by treating them with dilute
hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid .
Regeneration of anion exchange resins
• the exhausted anion exchange resins can be
regenerated by treating them with sodium
carbonate solution.
Advantages
• Can be used to soften highly acidic or alkaline
waters.
• It produces water of very low hardness.
Disadvantages
• The equipment is costly.
• Expensive chemicals are needed.
• Output of the process is reduced if water
contains turbidity.
