Ion exchange, adsorbent and chromatographic resins are used in industrial applications to modify physico-chemical characteristics of liquids.
The most known applications are softening or demineralization of water for boilers where, by means of resins, encrusting mineral salts are removed.
The resins appear as little beads having a diameter among 0,3 and 1,2 mm with a density higher than water and are used inside stainless steel or hard rubber iron columns equipped with distributors which allow the passage of fluids and avoid the outlet of resins.
The resins are real filtering materials that are obtained by polymerization processes at high temperatures which give to the micro spheres a high physico-chemical stability. The regulations for the application of these products in food industry fix the maximum monomer release allowed (FDA and Res AP 2004 3 version 2 - 05.09.07).
The manufacturer is committed to issue the conformity certificate. Ion exchange resins are mainly used to reduce ashes content (demineralization) and to recover organic acids in food liquids. Adsorbent resins are suitable for the adsorption of specific organic molecules from food and non-food liquids allowing the selective recovery.
Chromatographic resins are suitable for separation of organic and inorganic molecules.
The plants are built by engineering companies who know processes and resins performances. Many times new applications are involved, where the process is developed thanks to the accomplishment of laboratory tests and pilot plant trials. In particular, adsorbent resins, are new products which can replace crystallization and distillation steps.
The appropriate knowledge of the resins allows the intervention on liquids in order to solve process problems, giving a value-added to the production and for new products carrying out.