Ioncserélés

Ioncserélés, known in English as ion exchange, is a chemical process that involves the exchange of ions between a solid material and a solution. This occurs through an equilibrium reaction where ions from the solid phase are replaced by ions of the same charge from the solution phase. The solid material, typically a resin or zeolite, contains mobile ions that can be released and exchanged.

The principle of ion exchange is based on the affinity of the solid material for certain ions in the solution. Different ion exchange materials have varying selectivities for different ions, making the process useful for separation and purification. For example, an ion exchange resin designed to remove calcium ions from water will have a higher affinity for calcium than for sodium ions.

Common applications of ion exchange include water softening, where calcium and magnesium ions are replaced by sodium ions to reduce water hardness. It is also widely used in water demineralization, removing all dissolved salts from water. In the pharmaceutical industry, ion exchange is employed for drug purification and delivery. The process finds applications in chromatography for separating and analyzing various substances, and in the nuclear industry for managing radioactive waste. Regeneration of the ion exchange material is often necessary to restore its capacity, typically by using a concentrated solution of the original ions.