Deionizing Filters: MB Series
Deionized water has had all the dissolved inorganics (or ions) removed. Typically, about 95% of known water contaminants are dissolved inorganics. So, processes that remove ions can potentially remove up to about 95% of all the contaminants. The ion exchange process takes advantage of the fact that all ions have either a positive or negative charge. Ion exchange resin has an attaction for these dissolved inorganics.
The ion exchange resin is made of tiny polystyrene beads – about the size of a grain of sand. It is called mixed bed because two types of beads are mixed together. The surface of the cation beads contain hydrogen ions (positive charge). The surface of the anion beads contain hydroxide ions (negative charge).
The resin works by exchanging contaminant ions in the water with the hydrogen and hydroxide ions. The contaminants attach to the beads while the hydrogen and hydroxide are released into the water. These two ions combine together to produce H2O. When the filter has approached its capacity for holding on to the contaminant ions, it can be regenerated and used again and again.
In the regeneration process, ions are still being exchanged but the process is reversed. The cation beads are saturated with hydrogen ions, forcing the cation beads to release the positively charged contaminants previously removed from the water such as calcium, magnesium, lead, sodium, etc. The anion beads are saturated with hydroxide ions, forcing the beads to release the negatively charge contaminants including fluoride, chloride, bicarbonates, sulfates, etc. The waste water produced by this regeneration process contains salt and the contaminants previously removed from the water. There are several methods for regenerating resin, however, Custom Pure has modified its technique in order to minimize the amount of water and chemicals used in the regeneration process. In fact we use just half the chemicals and one tenth the water used by other methods. Our process uses only one ounce of water to regenerate resin for every gallon of water produced by that resin. Pretty amazing!
Benefits: Removal of >98% contaminants; no wasted water; no electricity needed; fast flow rate; no need for a storage tank.
Limitations: Capacity is diminished when used on water supplies with a high mineral content; does not remove bacteria, viruses or parasites; if resin is not regenerated at proper intervals, contaminants can return to the water.
Used in combination with activated carbon for the added ability to remove of organic chemicals and parasites and to protect the resin from chlorine.
Products using Ion Exchange: MB Series Filters