Patent ID: 6375851
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: B01D,B01J

Abstract:
A process for the continuous purification of a liquid comprising the steps of:(a) providing at least six ion exchange zones; each of the ion exchange zones containing ion exchange resin; each of the ion exchange zones having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet able to communicate with the outlet of the preceding ion exchange zone and the outlet able to communicate with the inlet of the succeeding ion exchange zone; the outlet of the last ion exchange zone able to communicate with the inlet of the first ion exchange zone; (b) providing a valving means whereby each ion exchange zone inlet may communicate to either a feed stream, a regenerant stream, a water stream, or a sweetwater stream; (c) providing a valving means whereby each ion exchange zone outlet may communicate to either a product stream, a waste stream, or a sweetwater stream; (d) providing a valving means whereby communication between any ion exchange zone outlet and the next succeeding ion exchange zone inlet may be interrupted; (e) passing a feed stream in series downwardly through a first and second of the ion exchange zones and collecting a product from the second ion exchange zone; passing the water stream in series downwardly through a third and fourth of the ion exchange zones; combining the rinse stream exiting the fourth ion exchange zone with the regenerant stream and passing the combined streams into a fifth ion exchange zone, in series downwardly through a sixth ion exchange zone to the waste stream; (f) passing a feed stream in series downwardly through the first and second of the ion exchange zones and collecting a product stream from the second ion exchange zone; passing the water stream in series downwardly through the third, fourth, fifth and sixth of the ion exchange zones to the waste stream; (g) repeating steps (e) and (f) by periodically advancing all streams entering and exiting an ion exchange zone to the next succeeding ion exchange zone, the first ion exchange zone succeeding the last ion exchange zone.