Ionenwissers

Ionenwissers, also known as ion exchange resins, are insoluble granular materials that can exchange their mobile ions for other ions that are bound to them. They are typically porous polymer beads that are functionalized with charged groups. These charged groups attract ions of the opposite charge from a surrounding solution, holding them in place while releasing ions of the same charge into the solution. This process is called ion exchange.

The primary application of ionenwissers is in water purification. They are used to remove dissolved ions from water, such as calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness, or nitrate and sulfate ions that can be detrimental to health or industrial processes. By passing water through a bed of ionenwissers, these unwanted ions are adsorbed onto the resin, and less harmful ions, or ions that do not affect the desired properties, are released. For instance, cation exchange resins in their sodium form are used to soften water by exchanging calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions. Anion exchange resins can remove negatively charged ions like nitrates.

Beyond water treatment, ionenwissers find use in various other fields. They are employed in the chemical industry for separation and purification of substances, in food processing for demineralization or decolorization of liquids, and in analytical chemistry for sample preparation. The regeneration of ionenwissers is a crucial aspect of their use. Once the resin is saturated with ions from the solution, it can be regenerated by treating it with a concentrated solution of the ions it is supposed to release. This allows for repeated use of the ionenwissers.