Condensate Polishing Septa & Specialty

Ion exchange resins help replace dissolved impurities in water with beneficial ions. Cation resins can remove hard minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Anion resins can help eliminate anions, such as chloride, silica, and sulfate. The resin bed is made from polymer with functional groups that attract and hold onto cation or anion. When water flows through this bed, the unwanted ions in the water are exchanged with the ions attached to the resin. These resins help ensure ultra-pure water for power plant applications.

Powdered ion exchange resins are finely ground forms of bead resins, which are designed for high-efficiency filtration and rapid-ion exchange. While chemically similar to conventional resins, their smaller particle sizes can increase surface area, enhancing kinetic performance and adsorption capacity. These resins are used in condensate polishing, high-purity water treatment, and precoat filtration systems. Our Powdex® Powdered Ion Exchange Resins are brilliant examples of powdered ion exchange resins.

Bead resins are uniformly sized, spherical polymer-based ion exchange resins. Their uniformity facilitates the ion exchange process, efficiently removing dissolved ions from water and other solutions. These resins can be regenerated and reused, making them cost-effective for large-scale applications. They are used in boiler feedwater treatment, condensate polishing, nuclear water treatment, and industrial softening applications. Gravex® bead resins from Graver Technologies offer high-capacity ion exchange, strong mechanical durability, and consistent performance, making them ideal for power generation and industrial water treatment.

Mixed-bed ion exchange resins combine strong acid cation (SAC) and strong base anion (SBA) resins in a single system for ultra-pure water production. They provide high-efficiency ion removal, ensuring superior water purity, reduced conductivity, and enhanced equipment protection in critical operations.

Ion exchange resins are regenerated by reversing the ion exchange process. The process depends on the resin type. For instance, the cation resins are regenerated by using strong acids like sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. These acids can replace captured calcium, magnesium, and sodium ions with hydrogen (H⁺) or sodium (Na⁺). Anion resins are regenerated using strong bases like sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide. These bases help replace absorbed chloride, sulfate, and silica ions with hydroxide (OH⁻). The regeneration process involves backwashing, chemical regeneration, rinsing, and placing back to service. High-performance resins like Gravex® and Powdex® are designed for efficient regeneration, extending service life and optimizing power plant water treatment.