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US 4,120,786 AGranted
Separation of mixed ion exchange resins
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGeorge E. Petersen, James M. Dotson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for separating a mixture of cation and anion resins is disclosed. The separation involves introducing the mixture of cation and anion resins to a treatment zone in countercurrent flow with a carrier fluid to achieve hydroclassification of the resins. The method and apparatus may be employed to separate cation and anion resins on either a batch or continuous basis.
Claims18
A method for separating a mixture of cation and anion exchange resins from each other comprising the steps of:
- hydroclassifying the cation and anion resins by introducing the mixture of resins and a carrier fluid to a treatment zone in a countercurrent flow,
- monitoring the pH of the resins in the treatment zone, a change in the pH of the resins indicating the position of an interface between the separated cation and anion resins, and
- removing the separated cation resin from a level in the treatment zone below the interface between the separated cation and anion resins until the pH of the resin being removed becomes basic, and thereafter
- removing the separated anion resin from the treatment zone.
1 more element
Apparatus for separating a mixture of cation and anion exchange resins comprising:
- a separator tank defining a treatment zone receiving a countercurrent flow of the mixture of resins and a carrier fluid to hydroclassify the cation and anion resins,
- resin inlet means for introducing the mixture of resins to the treatment zone,
- fluid distribution means for introducing the carrier fluid to the bottom of the treatment zone,
- a carrier fluid drain for removing carrier fluid from the top of the treatment zone,
- a pH monitor for sensing the pH of the resins in the treatment zone, said monitor being disposed at the bottom of the treatment zone, a change in the pH of the resins indicating the level of an interface between the separated cation and anion resins, and
- cation resin outlet means for removing the separated cation resin from a level in the treatment zone below the interface between the separated cation and anion resins.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.