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A wastewater treatment solution encompasses different processes and methods to reduce excessive levels of contaminants before discharging into the environment or reusing in industrial and commercial processes. One popular technology is water softeners, which reduce high levels of dissolved solids, such as calcium and magnesium ions. The excessive presence of these minerals increases the hardness of water, which can cause problems for plants and piping systems. Ready to learn about how softeners reduce hardness and why it is important to make water softer in an industrial setting? Well, read on to find out more. You will also learn about different types of softeners and what hard water is. What is Hard Water? This refers to having high levels of dissolved salts or minerals, especially calcium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium are naturally found in chalk, limestone, dolomite, etc., and when rain falls on these rock surfaces, it percolates and dissolves these minerals. In a nutshell, this is how it occurs naturally. Hard water in terms of industrial wastewater is produced by various industries, such as chemical manufacturing, food and beverage processing, mining, and mineral processing, to mention a few. Whatever the source, a viable wastewater treatment solution is necessary to reduce liquid waste hardness before reusing or discharging the purified wastewater. The Importance of Treating Hard Water Hard water is associated with a series of problems in domestic as well as industrial applications. It causes buildup on appliances such as shower heads (remember cloaked shower heads?) and other electrical appliances. In addition, soap doesn’t lather well. In industrial settings, it causes mineral buildup on the piping systems of equipment, reducing efficiency and increasing energy costs. It can also cause damage to boilers and coolant systems, which in turn increases operation and maintenance costs. Water Softening Process Softeners provide an effective wastewater treatment solution to prevent limescale buildup by using the process of ion exchange. During ion exchange, wastewater rich in calcium and magnesium passes through an ion exchange resin column containing resin beads charged with sodium ions. As the liquid waste comes into contact with the resin beads, calcium and magnesium are exchanged with sodium ions. Over time, resin beads become cloaked with magnesium and calcium ions, reducing their purification effectiveness, and therefore they require rejuvenation or regeneration. This is done by passing a salty solution (brine) through the resin bed to remove unwanted ions by replacing them with sodium ions. Simplex and Duplex Systems There are two softener systems used: simplex and duplex wastewater treatment solutions. The mechanism of purification is the same; the only difference is that the simplex system contains only one column. This means when the resin beads become less effective and undergo regeneration, the purification process stops. In addition, some processes also stop until regeneration ends. The duplex system, on the other hand, consists of two vessels where ion exchange takes place. When the resin beads in one column undergo regeneration, the second column continues the purification process to avoid interruptions, and vice versa. Hard water, when used in industrial processes, can cause a series of problems due to limescale buildup, causing damage to plants and equipment. Water softener is a great wastewater treatment solution that reduces calcium and magnesium ions by replacing them with less harmful sodium. It is important to consult a reputable company for the installation of an appropriate softener system to address your business’s specific needs. Author Plate Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent company providing consultation, equipment and the most effective wastewater treatment solution for your business, including reverse osmosis water systems. Bringing together a host of experience and specialist knowledge, the company is committed to building and maintaining long-term relationships and creating maximum value and benefit for their customers.
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