Chemically active textile materials as efficient means for water purification

Fibrous ion exchangers (FIBAN) have been studied in a model process of water softening and removal from water simultaneously present heavy metal ions: Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, CU2+, Pb2+. The effect of the following factors on the efficiency of Ca2+ removal from a model solution has been studied: the filtering bed height (7-40 mm); density of the column packing corresponding to the volume capacity, 0.17-0.83 meq/cm(3); solution flow rate (4-37cm/min). A fibrous sulfonic-type ion exchanger in shallow beds has exhibited a high efficiency in removal Ca2+ from water, greatly exceeding efficiency of a conventional sulfostyrene resin studied in parallel. In an cases high breakthrough capacities corresponding to the degree of column utilization, 0.6-0.9, have been observed. In the processes of water purification from heavy metal ions the highest efficiency was observed for chelating fibrous ion exchanger with iminodiacetete groups. A granular resin of the same type had much lower efficiency. Fibrous ion exchangers can find a wide application in water treatment processes.