The Total Solution ... for Recycling Water and Chemicals
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FAQ : Ion-Exchange or Membranes (or Both)?
What are the Differences Between Ion-Exchange
or Membranes (or Both)?In many cases these separation technologies do not produce the same results. The key operating differences are:
- Ion-exchange(I-X) removes the contaminants by holding them within the resin without a wastewater stream; contaminants are handled as solid waste (non-hazardous) or regenerated
- Membrane concentrates (or separates) the contaminants from a wastewater stream that is typically sent to a drain
Which of these separation technologies to select depends upon the following questions:
- Chemistry of the cleaning agent
- Water purity required
- Air and wastewater discharge regulations
- Corporate enviornmental goals
Here is a comparison of a few possible solutions:
| AQUEOUS (water soluble flux) | SEMI-AQUEOUS (RMA flux) | |
| ION-EXCHANGE (I-X) |
Closed-Loop | Closed-Loop |
| MEMBRANE | open system,lead removal only | open system,lead removal only |
| reverse osmosis | no closed-loop typically(I-X alternative far less expensive)10-30% of water used becomes a wastewater stream | closed-loop for Axarel ®, terpene etc. producing low purity water (add I-X for high purity water) |
| microfiltration(MF) | no practical value | solvent/water separation or RO pretreatment |
(For RMA FLUX / SAPONIFIER, MF can be used to extend the life of an alkaline cleaner)
Axarel ® is a registered trademark of Dupont
Copyright 2003 Separation Technologists, Inc. AquaChemical, AquaCycler, AquaMembrane, AquaZero, and Separation Technologists are trademarks and registered trademarks of Separation Technologists, Inc. All other names are trademarks of their respective companies.