The Effect of a Synthetic Flocculant on Ion-Exchange Resin

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine if a synthetic flocculant would foul ion-exchange resin used in deionization plants. It was found that unreacted flocculant fouled the surface of cation-exchange resin, restricting mass transfer, but that total capacity was not significantly affected. Several samples of used resin from a deionization plant did not show evidence of surface fouling, but did have less capacity than new resin. This indicated that unreacted flocculant had not been present in the plant feed water.