公开(公告)号：US09731983B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-15

申请号：US14431158

申请日：2013-10-04

Applicant: LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

Inventor： Arup K Sengupta ,  Surapol Padungthon ,  Michael German ,  Jinze Li

IPC: C02F1/42 ,  B01J39/20 ,  B01J39/05 ,  B01J39/09 ,  B01J49/06 ,  B01J49/53 ,  C02F101/10 ,  C02F101/14 ,  C02F101/30 ,  C02F103/08

CPC classification number: C02F1/42 ,  B01J39/05 ,  B01J39/09 ,  B01J39/20 ,  B01J49/06 ,  B01J49/53 ,  C02F2001/425 ,  C02F2101/105 ,  C02F2101/14 ,  C02F2101/30 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  C02F2303/16

Abstract: The present invention includes a novel salt-free water softening method that utilizes an exchange medium (such as a gel exchange polymer, a macroporous exchange polymer, or an inorganic cation exchanger) that is pre-loaded with a polyvalent cation that has low solubility in aqueous phase at nearly neutral pH. The method of the invention does not require use of a sodium salt or mineral acid in the regeneration of the exchange medium.