# US 10,118,841 B2 · Cartridge for the treatment of drinking water and method for purifying drinking water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,841 B2 - Document ID: US10118841B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/388,640 - Filed: 2013-04-09 - Published: 2015-03-05 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-12 - Assignees: BWT Water+more GmbH - Applicants: BWT water+more GmbH - Inventors: Juergen Johann; Monique Bissen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118841B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/42: by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J) - B01J 39/05: in the strongly acidic form - B01J 39/07: in the weakly acidic form - B01J 47/012: using portable ion-exchange apparatus - B01J 47/024: where the ion-exchangers are in a removable cartridge - B01J 47/026: using columns or beds of different ion exchange materials in series - B01J 47/04: Mixed-bed processes - C02F 1/003: {using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices (C02F9/20 takes precedence)} - C02F 1/68: by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water (medicinal water A61K) - C02F 2001/425: {using cation exchangers} - C02F 2101/10: Inorganic compounds - C02F 2201/006: Cartridges - C02F 2307/04: as part of a pitcher or jug - C02F 2307/10: as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract A cartridge for treating drinking water, the cartridge comprising a mixture of an ion-exchange material, one part of which is a highly acidic ion-exchange material and another part of which is a weakly acidic ion-exchange material, wherein one of the materials is loaded with alkali ions or alkaline earth ions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge for treating drinking water, comprising: at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, wherein the first part of the ion-exchange material is loaded with the alkaline earth ions to at least 60% of its capacity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material are provided in form of a mixed granulated material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material are provided in form of ion-exchange non-woven fabrics. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material are provided in a ratio from 1:9 to 9:1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge is adapted for use in a gravity-operated household water filter, and wherein the cartridge includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet such that the cartridge is insertable into a hopper into which water can be filled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part is loaded with magnesium ions. ### Claim 7 A method for treating drinking water using a cartridge for treating drinking water, the cartridge having at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, the method comprising: passing the drinking water through an ion-exchange material which comprises a mixture of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and a weakly acidic ion-exchange material, wherein one of the highly acidic ion-exchange material or the weakly acidic ion-exchange material is at least partially loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, wherein the highly acidic ion-exchange material is loaded with hydrogen ions, and wherein the drinking water is acidified to a pH of less than 3. ### Claim 8 A cartridge for treating drinking water, comprising: at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with hydrogen ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state is predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and wherein highly acidic and weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, wherein the first part of the ion-exchange material is loaded with the hydrogen ions to at least 50% of its capacity. ### Claim 9 A cartridge for treating drinking water, comprising: at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge; wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material comprise ion-exchange non-woven fabrics. ### Claim 10 A method for treating drinking water using a cartridge for treating drinking water, the cartridge having at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, the method comprising: passing the drinking water through an ion-exchange material which comprises a mixture of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and a weakly acidic ion-exchange material, wherein one of the highly acidic ion-exchange material or the weakly acidic ion-exchange material is at least partially loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, wherein the weakly acidic ion-exchange material is loaded with hydrogen ions, and wherein the drinking water is acidified to a pH of not less than 4.2.