Patent ID: 6059974
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B01J,C02F

Abstract:
A process for softening water comprising the steps of(a) passing a first stream of water through an anion-exchange unit to raise the pH of said first stream and provide a second stream of water having a pH of at least 9.5, said anion-exchange unit being a unit adapted to release hydroxyl ions;(b) providing said second stream of water to water softening equipment comprising reactor and clarifier sections, said second stream of water being used as the principal source of hydroxyl ions in said water softening equipment;(c) processing a fourth stream of water through said water softening equipment, said fourth stream comprising said second stream; and(d) operating said water softening equipment on said fourth stream of water to remove via precipitation reactions hardness ions from said fourth stream and to provide thereby a fifth stream of water.