Puritech claims ion exchange advance

Dessel, Belgium —Belgium company PuriTech has developed an ion exchange technology for liquid adsorption separation processes. The system is claimed to improve liquid–resin contact efficiency and reduce operating and capital costs in various industries.

The technology, called Ionex, is being targeted at applications in the water and wastewater treatment, electroplating, food processing, pharma/biotech, petrochemical and chemical industries. It can also be used to treat potable water, said Puritech.

Ionex employs a patented multi-port distribution valve that creates a process system for continuous, countercurrent ion exchange. The valve distributes different flow streams to several resin cells and determines whether the resin is in an adsorption, regeneration or rinsing cycle.

The Ionex valve’s process disc rotates around a central axis and distributes the different flow streams to the cells containing the adsorption materials. During a full rotation each cell undergoes an entire sorption cycle, so the system consumes up to 75% less water and requires 50% less ion exchange resin than traditional systems, said Puritech.

According to Filip Rochette, projects director at PuriTech, the new design offers a number of other advantages: “Rigid pipes can be used between the valve and ion exchange vessels, and sealing is greatly simplified ... In addition, a simple control unit can be employed because the system does not use a carousel.”