Demineralizácia

Demineralizácia refers to the process of removing mineral ions from a substance, typically water. This is achieved through various methods, with ion exchange being a common technique. In ion exchange, water is passed through a resin bed containing ions that can be exchanged for the unwanted mineral ions present in the water. For example, a cation exchange resin can remove positively charged ions like calcium and magnesium, while an anion exchange resin removes negatively charged ions like sulfates and chlorides.

Another method is reverse osmosis, which uses a semipermeable membrane to filter out dissolved salts and minerals under pressure. Distillation also effectively removes minerals by boiling water and collecting the steam, leaving the dissolved solids behind. Electrodialysis is another process that uses ion-exchange membranes and an electric field to separate ions from water.

Demineralized water has various applications. In industrial settings, it is crucial for boiler feed water to prevent scale formation and corrosion, and in manufacturing processes where pure water is required, such as in the production of electronics and pharmaceuticals. It is also used in laboratories for analytical purposes and in some medical treatments. The degree of demineralization can vary depending on the intended use, ranging from partially demineralized water to highly purified water with minimal dissolved solids.