Water treatment uses physical media like sand, aactivated carbon, and aresins, plus chemicals like chlorine, alum, and polymers for purification (disinfection, coagulation) and softening (ion exchange), while softeners primarily use ion-exchange resin beads and salt to swap hardness minerals (calcium, magnesium) for sodium. Key materials include calcite (neutralization), manganese greensand (iron removal), UV light, and specialized filter media like anthracite, alongside equipment from FRP/stainless steel.
Water Purification Materials & Processes
- Physical Filtration Media:Sand & Anthracite: Remove suspended solids and turbidity.
Activated Carbon: Adsorbs chlorine, bad tastes, odors, and organic contaminants.
Resin: Ion exchange resins remove specific contaminants or soften water.
- Chemicals:Coagulants (Alum, Ferric Chloride): Clump tiny particles into larger "flocs".
Disinfectants (Chlorine, Chloramines, Ozone, UV Light): Kill bacteria and viruses.
pH Adjusters (Lime, Hydrochloric Acid): Control water acidity/alkalinity.
- Other Technologies: UV disinfection uses ultraviolet light to sterilize water.
Water Softening Materials & Processes
- Ion Exchange Resin: Polymer beads that exchange hardness ions (calcium, magnesium) for sodium (or potassium) ions.
- Salt (Sodium Chloride/Potassium Chloride): Used to regenerate exhausted resin beads.
- Systems: Include filter tanks (often FRP, Stainless Steel) and brine tanks.
Common Softener/Filter Media Types
- Resin: Synthetic polymer beads for softening and deionization.
- Calcite: Crushed calcium carbonate for acid neutralization.
- Manganese Greensand: Filters iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide.
Key Chemicals Used Across Processes
- Alum (Aluminum Sulfate): Coagulation.
- Chlorine/Sodium Hypochlorite: Disinfection.
- Lime (Calcium Oxide): Softening & pH adjustment.
- Hydrogen Peroxide/Ozone: Oxidation & disinfection.