Ion exchange resins for industrial water treatment

LANXESS, the leading specialty chemicals company participated at the Aquatech India tradeshow from 02nd – 04th March, 2011 to showcase the applications of their premium product, namely Lewatit® ion exchange resins. At this exhibition, LANXESS showcased products for industrial and potable water treatment.

The main products for industrial water treatment are Lewatit® MonoPlus S 108 and Lewatit® S 1667. Lewatit® MonoPlus S 108 is a new strongly acidic, gel-type cation exchange resin with beads of uniform size (monodisperse). Due to a special manufacturing process this resin type is extremely resistant to chemical, osmotic and mechanical stress. Even at very short cycle times, the special ion exchange resin matrix leads to long life cycles in demineralization processes.
The improved total capacity results in high operating capacities with a very low ionic leakage and very low regenerant chemical consumption.

Lewatit® S 1667 is a monodisperse, strong acidic cation exchanger, which was newly developed for industrial water softening. The optimized functionality of this resin provides a longer cycle time between regenerations. Thus without compromising leakage, less regeneration is required and the economics of operation are improved.

The products showcased for potable water treatment are Lewatit® FO 36 for arsenic removal and Lewatit® MonoPlus SR 7 for nitrate removal. Lewatit® FO 36 is designed to reduce the arsenic contamination in potable water supplies, and meet stringent requirements of regional legislation at the same time.

Nitrate in potable water is limited at a concentration level of 50 parts per million. Increased nitrate levels especially endanger babies of suffering from Methemoglobinemia or so called “Blue Baby Syndrome”. Also the health of adults can be affected if the consumption of nitrate in potable water overcomes a certain level. Nitrate enters into well water especially in areas of intensive agricultural activities since nitrate is contained in synthetic and natural fertilisers that are washed into the groundwater with the rain. Lewatit® ion exchange resin, Lewatit® MonoPlus SR 7 can reduce the nitrate content to levels safely below 50 mg/L. Depending on the depth of regeneration removal rates of up to 90% are possible.

LANXESS has more than 70 years of experience with the production and application of ion exchange resins. The Lewatit® brand stands for innovative filtration media and, at the same time, also for innovative and highly efficient technologies, such as the fluidized bed or multistep process.

LANXESS is investing globally in new production facilities for ion exchangers and other products that are key to water treatment. LANXESS has set up a new state-of-the-art production facility for ion exchange resins in Jhagadia in the state of Gujarat, which is operational since December 2010. It boasts an annual capacity of 35,000 metric tons. Around 200 employees from the Ion Exchange Resins (ION) business unit manufacture products for industrial water treatment for the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries, the food sector and the power industry.

LANXESS is one of the top three global players in the area of manufacturing ion exchange resins for water treatment and purification and manufactures over 250 products from the Lewatit® product range.