Patent ID: 6475390
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A23C,C13B,C13K

Abstract:
A separation process comprising the following steps(a) contacting an aqueous solution comprising a nutrient and divalent ions with an ion exchange resin comprising monovalent ions, until the concentration of divalent ions in said aqueous solution has been depleted in comparison to the initial concentration of divalent ions in said aqueous solution and collecting the eluate; (b) subjecting the eluate from step (a) to a process capable of separating monovalent ions to obtain a permeate fraction comprising monovalent ions and a retentate fraction comprising said nutrient; (c) separating the retentate fraction from step (b) into fractions, wherein at least one of said fractions comprises the major portion of said nutrient; (d) regenerating the ion-exchange resin in step (a) by contacting the ion-exchange resin with a solution comprising the permeate fraction from step (b) until a major portion of divalent ions in the ion exchange resin have been replaced by monovalent ions.