FAQ : New vs. Regenerated Ion-Exchange Resin

What are the Application Differences Between New vs.
Regenerated Ion-exchange Resin?

New resin is resin that has never been used. Since it has never been used, the number of gallons of wastewater treated remain the same. The number of gallons treated by the new resin could be an additional 30% to 100% or more than that treated by used regenerated resin. With new resin you get the best formulation for user applications to optimize the number of gallons treated.

• Dispose of the resin in a sanitary landfill after a solid waste analysis is performed. Typically, the federal TCLP test indicates that it is non-hazardous; however, each user must comply with state regulations which on a rare occasion are more stringent. Direct disposal by the user reduces the chance of misuse by third parties

Regenerated Resin is resin that has been used once too many times and is treated with chemicals and can be reused. Each time the resin is treated it loses some ability (capacity) to treat the same number of gallons of wastewater. Since the cost to treat the resin is the same and the resin loses its capacity, then the cost to treat the wastewater increases. Depending upon a number of factors (frequency of regeneration, temperature, water chemistry, grade of resin), the loss in capacity can be from 5% to 30% per year. Typically used regenerated resin capacity is about 33% less than the capacity of new resin. The initial savings that seem so obvious can be illusory because you cannot easily see the reduced number of gallons of wastewater treated unless you perform a very careful analysis of your operation. Even if an analysis is made, differences of 30% cannot be seen easily because soldering material differences, cleaner process variations, production volume and other factors make it difficult.

• Ship the resin back to the supplier for regeneration after making sure that a solid waste test is performed to classify the waste as hazardous or not

...OR...

• Dispose of the resin in a sanitary landfill if the solid waste is not hazard