Contaminants removal with simultaneous desalination using carbon dioxide regenerated hybrid ion exchanger nanomaterials

A process for removing anions and cations from water, comprising:

• introducing a source of water to be treated into a first vessel having a bottom layer containing a HAIX-nanoZr anion exchange resin and a top layer containing a weak acid cationic exchange fiber, said water comprising one or more anions selected from the group consisting of nitrate, sulfate, chloride, fluoride and phosphate, and said water comprising one or more cations selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, strontium and barium, said anionic resin having a bicarbonate anion associated therewith, said cationic exchange fiber being in protonated form;
• passing the water to be treated over said fibers and resins to form a treated effluent containing bicarbonate ions;
• passing the treated effluent into a second vessel containing weak acid cationic exchange fibers in protonated form to convert bicarbonate anions to carbolic acid, H2CO3;
• collecting the treated effluent;
• reversing a direction of effluent flow by injecting carbon dioxide into the second vessel to form a bicarbonate solution;
• passing the bicarbonate solution into the first vessel to cause bicarbonate anions to displace anions associated with the HAIX-nanoZr anion exchange resin;
• and
• collecting a discharge exiting the first vessel.