A method for carrying out of bases exchange reactions by means of zeolite hard strength substances, in particular for softening of water

摘要

248,414. Higgins, E. B. Oct. 1. 1924. Purifying liquids.-In softening water by base exchange material and for other purposes involving exchange reaction, the exchange material is maintained in a state of suspension by the liquid to be treated flowing upwardly at a speed equal to or greater than the natural rate of fall of the coarsest particles of the exchange material so that the exchange material is maintained stationary or travels slowly upwards. In apparatus where the exchange material is maintained stationary a cone-shaped vessel is employed with vertex downwards at which the treated liquid and also the brine for regenerating the exchange material enters. The rate of flow of liquid is adjusted so that the speed of the liquid at the narrow end is sufficient to prevent the largest particles falling and the speed at the upper end is such that the smallest particles will fall. An expanded part is provided at the top having an outflow pipe. If heavier particles are used the cone is narrower to increase the speed of the liquid flow. The apparatus may be used open or under pressure. The taper of the conical vessel may be increased to allow the use of an exchange material having a greater diversity in the dimensions of the particles. The vessel may be cylindrical, with conical extensions at the top and bottom to give the required variation in the speed of flow. In an apparatus for a continuous process a pair of receivers 14, 15 of less diameter than the throat 8 of the vessel 1 are connected with the base of the vessel 1 by valves 16, 17. The exchange material when exhausted is allowed to fall from the vessel 1 through the corresponding valve into one of the receivers,- where it is regenerated by brine introduced by a cock 20 and exhausted through a cock 18. Simultaneously, regenerated exchange material is carried up into the vessel 1 from the other receiver by the treated liquid introduced through a valve 6b where it is maintained above the throat 8 by the liquid flow through the receiver. Fig. 6 shows an apparatus in which the exchange material travels slowly upwards in the tube 1 and the treated liquid passes through an injector 13, drawing exchange material from a container 22, and passes with the exchange material into a vessel 29 where the exhausted exchange material collects. The exhausted exchange material is conducted back to the container through a specially chamfered valve 30, to give small resistance to its passage, and through a further liquid column 31, midway in which is an inlet 5 for upwardly flowing brine which regenerates the exhausted material as it falls. The exchange material is then washed by upwardly flowing water passing into the container 22 from a pipe 32. The process may be applied to cases wherein reversible absorption takes place, e.g., removing iron in solution from water by manganese zeolites.