THE DESIGN OF ION-EXCHANGE PROCESSES

Using techniques that have been developed for unit operations, a graphical method has been developed that can be used to design crossflow and countercurrent ion-exchange processes, The basic mass transfer operations approach of making a material balance about one theoretical stage is used. The material balance equations that are derived are applied graphically in conjunction with an ion-exchange isotherm which relates the concentrations of ions in the zeolite phase and the solution phase. The number of theoretical stages required to carry out a given exchange in either countercurrent or crossflow operations is established along with the theoretical efficiency of reactant utilization.