Can u explain the methods of removing hardness of water-softening of hard water? Permutit process and organic ion exchanger?? with diagram?

Temporary hardness : It is due to the presence of soluble bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium. It can be removed by following methods:  

(i) Boiling: During boiling, the soluble Mg(HCO₃)₂ present in water is converted into insoluble Mg(OH)₂ and Ca(HCO₃)₂ is changed to insoluble CaCO₃  which settle at the bottom as precipitates. These precipitates can be removed by filtration. Filtrate thus obtained will be soft water.

   Heat

Mg( HCO₃)₂-----> Mg(OH)₂  + 2CO ₂

    Heat

Ca( HCO₃)₂-----> CaCO₃  + CO ₂+ H₂O

(ii)Calcium hydroxide or Clark’ method: In this method calculated amount of lime is added to hard water. It precipitates out calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide which can be filtered off.

Mg( HCO₃)₂ + Ca(OH)₂----> MgCO₃  + CaCO₃ + 2 H₂O

Ca( HCO₃)₂ + Ca(OH)₂ ---> 2CaCO₃ + 2 H₂O

Permanent hardness: It is due to the presence of chlorides and sulphates of calcium and magnesium. It can be removed by following methods:

Ion exchange method: This is a modern method of softening of water. In this method, the ions present in the hard water are exchanged for less damaging ions from the exchangers. There are two main type of ion-exchangers as:

(i)Inorganic cation exchangers (Permuitit method): This is a modern method employed for the softening of hard water. hydrated sodium aluminium silicate (Na₂Al₂Si₂O₈.xH₂O) is called permutit. These complex salts are also known as zeolites.

The process of softening of water is carried in a tall cylindrical vesse packed with coarse sand (or gravel) and permuitit. Hard water is introduced through an inlet. It first reaches the bottom of the vessel. As it rises up, the suspended inpurities are removed by gravel. It then comes in contact with permuitit which exchanges Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions present in tank water with Na⁺ ions.The water that rises through permuitit layer is free from Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions and is therefore, soft.It can be taken out from outlet.

   Na₂Z          +        Ca⁺²          ——→   CaZ  + 2Na⁺

  Sodium zeolite  (From hard water)           Cal. Zeolite

   Na₂Z  +  Mg⁺²  ——→  MgZ  + 2Na⁺

   Sodium zeolite  (From hard water)  Mag. Zeolite

   where Z = Al₂Si₂O₈.xH₂O

Regeneration of Permuitit: After sometime, the entire Na₂Z gets converted into CaZ

and MgZ. Then the permuitit will n o longer function. In order to regenerate Na₂Z, the entry of hard water is stopped and in its place a 10% NaCl solution is introduced when Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions are exchanged by Na⁺ ions and permuitit gets regenerated. The Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions are washed away by water and permuitit, thus regenerated and can be used again for softening of hard water.

(ii)Organic ion exchangers: Permuitit removes only the cations Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions of the salts which cause the hardness of water. Certain organic substances called ion exchange resins can remove even the anions present in the salts responsible for the hardness of water. These are giant hydrocarbon frame works with acididc groups such as –COOH or –SO₃H attached to them and are called cation exchange resins (H⁺-resin). In another type of resins known as anion exchange resin, the hydrocarbon frame works have a basic groups –OH of –NH₂ attached to them. These are represented as –OH resins. The cation resin exchange the cation responsible for the hardness of water while anion exchange resin exchange the anions responsible for the hardness of water. The resulting water is demineralised or deionised water.

 In this process, hard water is first introduced from the top of the tank packed with gravel and cation exchange resin (H⁺-resin). As it cmes in contact with the resin, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions are exchanged with H⁺ ions of the resin as follows:

   Ca²⁺ +2Cl^- + 2H⁺-resin ----------> Ca(resin)₂  + 2H⁺ + 2Cl^-

(in hard water)

  Mg²⁺ +SO₄^2- + 2H⁺-resin ----------> Mg(resin)₂  + 2H⁺ + SO₄^2-

(in hard water)

Water that escapes from the tank is free from cations causing the hardness of water. It contains

H⁺, Cl^-, SO₄^2- ions. It is then introduced in another tank packed with the anion exchange resin   (OH^--resin). The anions Cl^- , SO₄^2- ions causing the hardness of water are exchanged by the OH^- ions of the resin as follows:

   Cl^- +OH^--resin ----------> OH^- + Cl^- -resin

(in hard water )

  SO₄^2- + 2OH^--resin ---------->  2OH^- + SO₄^2- (resin)₂

(in hard water)

The H⁺ ions coming from the cation resin tank combine with OH^- ions to form H₂O. Thus, the water coming out of the tank is free from all types of ions causing the hardness of water.

Regeneration of resins: The exhausted resin in the first tank is regenerated by treatment with moderately concentrated hydrochloric or sulphuric acid.

  Ca(resin)₂  + 2HCl ----------> CaCl₂ + 2H⁺- resin

Exchausted resin   Regenerated resin

 Similarly, the exhausted resin in the second tank is regenerated by treatment with moderately concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide.

   Cl^--resin  + NaOH ----------> NaCl + OH^-- resin

  Exchausted resin   Regenerated resin