Application

Soft water is necessary, or at least advantageous, not only for many commercial and industrial uses, but also for private households.

Water softening based on the principle of ion exchange has proved to be successful and produces excellent results with regard to hygiene and water quality.

Water-softening equipment that functions according to this principle consists of one or two reservoirs filled with synthetic resin beads, the ion-exchange resin. When hard water flows over the resin, the Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions which make the water hard are bound by the resin, which leaves the water soft. With time, however, the resin becomes saturated with the accumulated calcium and magnesium ions (exhausted) and needs to be regenerated.

To do this, a brine solution (an aqueous solution of sodium chloride) is fed into the water-softening equipment. This brine solution is prepared in integrated or separate brine generators by dissolving special regeneration salts such as Broxo, Broxetten, BroxoBlock and Broxomatic and fed into the reservoir(s) containing the resin in order to regenerate the ion exchanger.

During regeneration, ion exchange takes place in the reverse direction to when softening the water. The accumulated calcium and magnesium ions in the ion-exchange resin are replaced by sodium ions from the brine solution - the resin is regenerated and can be used for softening water again. The replaced calcium and magnesium ions are disposed of via the waste water system.