Applied Research Associates, Inc.

The Purolite Company

Purolite Corporation

Brotech Corporation

Francis Boodoo

James A Dale

Edward N Coppola

Carmen Mihaela Iesan

Fabio Chaves De Sousa

John Baxley

Andrea Davis

William Fries

The present invention provides a new water purification method and system using reverse osmosis. In particular, the present invention provides methods and water purification systems using an ion exchange resin and absorbent media for pretreatment of water being fed to a reverse osmosis treatment system, where the pretreatment reduces fouling of, or deposits or chemical attack on the membrane surfaces and passageways. Particularly, a macroporous resin having an average pore diameter in the range of 1,000 to 500,000 Angstroms and a crush strength or Chatillon value of at least 24 g/bead (710 &#x3bc;m bead diameter) is used.

Reduced fouling of reverse osmosis membranes

A new process for ion exchange softening of water used in Once-Through Steam Generators (OTSGs) by recovering and using the salt content of the blowdown water from the OTSG to regenerate the softener resin is provided, thus eliminating the cost for commercial regenerant salt that would otherwise be needed. Further, the very high purity of the salt recovered in the blowdown inherently results in the production of softened water with hardness leakage levels that are an order of magnitude lower than can be attained using commercial salt, thus reducing scale deposit potential and improving operating efficiency and reliability of the OTSG.

Water softener regeneration

The invention consists of a water treatment process using selective and regenerable weak base anion exchange resins to remove any number of complex anions, especially oxyanions including perchlorate, nitrate, chlorate, arsenate, selenate, and chromate, from aqueous solutions. The treatment process is comprised of three key processes including 1) pretreatment to lower pH, 2) ion exchange, and 3) post treatment to adjust pH and alkalinity. The invention also includes processes for regenerating weak base anion resins and treatment of the residuals generated. This invention employs pressurized treatment, carbon dioxide management, and reuse of regenerating solution to minimize pumping and treatment costs.

Process for regenerating and protonating a weak-base anion exchange resin

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King of Prussia, PA, United States of America

Francis Boodoo