A STUDY ON DEVELOPMENT OF PORTABLE IONftEXCHANGE UNIT FOR TREATMENT OF BRACKISH WATER

Abstract

There are many desalination processes, most of which are being used for catering to the demands of municipal water supply systems. These processes are capital intensive, cumbersome and • require expertise and external power sources besides other aspects for their operation. Due to these factors many remote areas facing the problem of natural brakish water sources have not been able to get an access to this technology. "A study on development of portable ion-exchange unit for treatment of brackish water., was undertaken to overcome these limitations by using ion-exchange resins as a potential desalting method for treating brakish waters. The work involyed analysis of the commercially available cation-exchange resin INDION 225 & anion-exchange resin INDION FF-IP and thereafter evaluating these resins in development of a mixed-bed cartridge type unit which is light, portable and simple to operate. Each reusable cartridge weighing approximately 150 grams could provide upto 2 litres of potable water from brakish water having maximum chloride and TDS range of 2000 ppm and 3500 ppm respectively when it is used along with a simple tubular contraption comprising of two chambers - the upper one served as the cartridge holder while the desalted effluent water collected into the lower chamber. The exhausted resin cartridges are proposed to be recycled after centralised regeneration.