The removal of perchlorate from waters using ion-exchange resins

摘要

This thesis investigates the feasibility of using several types of ion-exchange resins to remove perchlorate from waters. The capability of the resins to remove perchlorate, as well as their regeneration efficiency, were evaluated using both synthetic solutions and perchlorate-contaminated water from the Las Vegas Valley. For synthetic solutions, styrenic strong base resins showed high perchlorate removal efficiency but regeneration efficiency was low. Acrylic strong-base resins showed satisfactory perchlorate removal, but they regenerate better than the styrenic counterpart. Acrylic weak base resin showed satisfactory perchlorate removal efficiency and very high regeneration efficiency when regenerated with NaCl or caustic solutions. High concentrations of humic substances and sulfate, present in the perchlorate-contaminated groundwater, significantly affected perchlorate removal by the majority of the resins tested. Despite the affinity of the tested resins for sulfate, perchlorate was removed from the water by pushing sulfate out of the resin.