Resin Types and Production

Brian Windsor (Purolite International Ltd)

Properties of an Ion Exchanger

Synthetic Ion Exchangers require certain properties to perform
demineralisation. The three main properties required are:
a.
b.
c.

Insoluble in, but permeable by water.

An ability to exchange ions, with the different types of ions
commonly encountered in water supplies.
To allow the passage of water through the resin bed at
optimum rates without undue pressure drop.

Hopefully during this presentation it will become clear how this is

achieved and why some resin manufacturers produce over 400
different products!

A major resin producer will have 100s of products in their range.

When you purchase any ION EXCHANGE RESIN

THE BEST RESIN IS NOT USUALLY THE

CHEAPEST
THE BEST RESIN IS:
THE RESIN WHICH IS BEST SUITED TO YOUR
PLANT DESIGN AND OPERATING
CONDITIONS

Synthetic Resin Production Major production costs

Styrene Monomers
Divinyl benzene
Acrylic Monomers
Sulphuric acid
Caustic soda
Amines i.e. Trimethylamine, etc...........

These raw materials, together with energy, water and waste water costs
are the main drivers concerning the price of ion exchange prices.
It is not a labour intensive process
Most derived from Oil Oil price rising resin prices rise!

Synthetic Resin Types

There are many different types of synthetic ion exchangers.
Two principle polymer backbones which are used in producing
resins in IWT:
1.
2.

Polystyrenic
Polyacrylic

90% of sales Polystyrenic resins

10% of sales Acrylic but play an essential part on many sites in
IWT, treating waters with high either high temporary hardness or
with significant organic loading.

Synthetic Resin Production

There are many aspects involved in producing ion exchange resins,
but it can be split into main parts.
These are:
PART 1.

Formation of the polymer bead.

PART 2.

Converting the bead to an active an ion exchanger by

attaching a suitable functional group.

Polymer Bead Production

Historically polymer bead production is by suspension polymerisation
in a stirred reactor.
However, new polymer production techniques have been
introduced by all the leading ion exchange producers for many of the
new generation of narrow grade resins.
In all cases a cross linking agent is introduced.

Bead Formation
Makes the resin insoluble in water even when the hydrophilic
active groups are added.
Main X linking agent:

DVB

Polystyrenic Resin Production

There are other

chemicals:
Catalyst
Polymer aids
Protective Colloids
Etc.
However, they do
not appear in the
bead structure

Resin Structure
Common terms:

Gel or Macroporous

Gel Resins
These are solid single phase gel beads and are translucent (light
will pass through them).
Macroporous (Macroreticular) Resins
These resin beads are best described as like a Swiss Cheese.
The holes / pores are produced by introducing a porogen which
give the resin other improved characteristics for certain applications.
Beads are opaque (light will not pass through them)

Summary Slide 1 You should have noted!

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Synthetic resins used in IWT and oil is a major factor in production

cost.
IWT Resins are made with Polystyrenic or Polyacrylic backbones.
Resins are cross linked with DVB and varying the DVB content
affects performance.
Structure can be gel or macroporous.
Gel resins translucent (single gel phase).
Macroporous resins, opaque (light scatters due to internal
surfaces on pores)

Adjusting Resin Cross Linking

As you increase the DVB (X linking), the following characteristics are
changed:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Bead becomes stronger (crush strength).

It allows more active sites to be introduced.
(Higher total capacity)
It makes the structure tighter less water content in
the beads (moisture content reduces).
The beads become heavier higher S.G.

We will return to this again later to see how this affects performance
and range of products offered.

Introducing and Increasing Porosity

When you introduce and as you increase the porosity:
1.

Increase the elasticity of the resin.

2.

Increase in surface area.

3.

Improved the access into the beads to the

active sites.

4.

Reduced breaking weight strength of beads.

5.

Where there are holes there are no ion exchange sites

(less capacity unless you increase the DVB).

Resin Grading Standard grades

For standard batch production, when the beads are produced they
are hard, inert, polymer beads which can be handled easily and
we can now dry them and sieve them so that we can make
standard or special grades for different applications.
All manufacturers produce standard grade resins.
300 1200 microns (i.e. 0.3 1.2 mm).
(Nominal <1% fines outside of range at the fine end and up to
maximum of 5% at the coarse end.)
The inert polymer beads are much smaller but swell when
activated (as the active groups are hydrophilic) water will then
readily enter the beads.

Special Grading - Examples

High flow rates less fine beads
Mixed Beds and Stratified Beds good separation
Special Engineered Systems trimmed at fine and coarse end.
NEW TREND INCREASING USE OF:
Narrow /Uniform Beads
Increased use of packed bed designs in IWT for counter flow
regeneration etc.
Product Rationalisation

Narrow Uniform Grade Resins

Now produced by all the leading suppliers to the UK:
Monosphere / Marathon / (Amberjet)
Monoplus
Purofine / Puropack etc.

Dow (R&H)
Lanxess
Purolite

Each company has there own special manufacturing techniques

for producing these resins, minimising the waste copolymer
produced.
Other less well knwn UK suppliers also have a range of narrow
grade uniform resin beads for IWT.

Narrow Uniform Grade Resins

Because of their more uniform size these resins offer certain
advantages. The five principle advantages are as listed below:
1.

Stronger beads.

2.

Lower pressure.

3.

Improved capacity or lower regenerant usage.

4.

Reduced rinse volumes due to reduced diffusion paths.

5.

Increased surface area slower surface fouling.

Narrow Uniform Grade Resins

IWT narrow grade resins are
typically found in the range of 400
800 microns
Some have a very low uniformity
coefficient i.e. 1.1 )

Standard grade resins 300 1200 microns.

Narrow Uniform Grade Resins

The advantages in performance are dependent on:
1. The application.
2. The size of the ion (rate of diffusion on regeneration) being
removed.
3. Regeneration Level (contact time).
HOWEVER, PLEASE REMEMBER Improving cation resin
performance by changing to narrow grade resins can give rise to
other operating problems your plant can become anion limiting.

Summary Slide 2 You should have noted!

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Resins made from Polystyrene or Acrylic

Resins can use varying % DVB (cross liking agent)
Structure can be gel or macroporous
Changing the X linking agent affects performance.
Introducing or changing the porosity affects performance.
Inert polymer beads can be graded for different applications
of the final products to give special cuts.
Trend towards Narrow Grade Resins produced by special
techniques and offering some improvement in performance.
REMEMBER We still have not activated the resin into an ion
exchanger. That is what we will look at next!

PART 2
Polymer Activation Producing an Ion Exchanger
When activated their are four main types of ion exchangers in IWT
Demineralisation:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Strong Acid Cation Resins

Strong Base Anion Resins
Weak Acid Cation Resins
Weak Base Anion Resins

Strong Acid Cation Resins All polystyrenic based

Adding SO3-H+ to allow H+ to exchange with cations in the water.
Colour of the resin determined by how you sulphonate the resin.
Na+

Cation Resin - SO3H+

Cation Resin - SO3Na+ + H+

Weak Acid Cation Resins All polyacrylic based.

Adding COO-H+ to allow H+ to exchange with cations in the water
Process: Carboxylic functionality (usually by hydrolysis of acrylate,
methacrylate or arcylonitrile copolymers)
Ca2+
RCOOH+
COOH+
2 x RCOOCa + 2H+

Summary Slide 3 You should have noted!

Strong Acid Cation Resins:
Relatively simple production technique from one relatively cheap
type of polymer (polystyrenic) hence SAC resins are relatively
cheap. Active group SO3-H+
Weak Acid Cation Resins:
More complicated production technique from one more expensive
type of polymer (polyacrylic) hence WAC resins are much more
expensive. Active group COO-H+
Next: Anion activation far more options / more complicated
and hence anion resins are much more expensive.

Anion Resins (Weak and Strong)

Anion resins can be polystyrenic or polyacrylic.
Process:
Much more complicated. A two stage process
comprising of chloromethylation and then amination.
Chloromethylation

Putting a handle on to the resin matrix to

attach the amine active group.
Some secondary cross linking occurs.

Amination

Anion active group added. The resin can be

weak base or strong base depending on the
amine applied.

Example: Chloromethylation and Amination of polystyrenic anion resin

to SBA & WBA

This Cl site is
regenerated
with NaOH and
converted to
OH form.

Example: Amination of polyacrylic anion to WBA then SBA

Summary Slide 4 Synthetic Ion Exchange Resin Options (IWT Demineralisation)

Note*

1. The gel polystyrenic weak base resin is not manufactured.

2. The macroporous weak base acrylic is made but not normally
encountered in IWT Demineralisation.

Polystyrenic
SAC

Gel

Macro

SBA

Gel

Macro

Polyacrylic
WBA

Gel

Macro

WAC

Gel

Macro

SBA

Gel

Macro

WBA

Gel

Macro

Strong Acid Cation Resins How do they vary?

Resin manufacturers brochure have long list of SAC resins.
Main characteristics are:
1.
Total capacity
2.
Moisture content
3.
Structure
4.
Specific Gravity
You will notice as the total capacity increases the moisture content
decreases and specific gravity increases. This is brought about by
changes in the DVB content.

Do you remember an earlier slide (slide 17) well done!

Strong Acid Cation Resins How do they vary?

So as the DVB X linking increases:
1.
2.
3.
4.

More total capacity higher activity

Physically stronger bead
Lower moisture content (tighter structure)
Beads are heavier (more dense)

So to make a strong resin with the highest activity and to get the
resin with the best performance for your plant you should install a
high DVB, high total capacity resin - WRONG

Total
Capacity

Working
Capacity

2.0 eq/l

1.2 eq/l

8% DVB Gel Cation

Increasing DVB content

Graph showing variation in DVB content with Total

Capacity / Working Capacity for a given HCl regen level

Strong Acid Cation Resins How do they vary?

In addition to having gel and macroporous versions, as you increase
the DVB / Total Capacity of the resin the structure becomes so tight
you affect the kinetic performance and the regenerability of the
resins.
8% DVB gel cation resin gives you the optimum performance in
cation unit IWT demineralisation
1.
2.
3.

Highest Working Capacity

Best Kinetic Performance
Good Regenerability

Weak Acid Cation Resins How do they vary

The weak acid cation resins vary much less. In real terms in todays
modern demineralisation plants you tend to come across the same
types of WAC resin from all the manufacturers.
They are all acrylic WAC and are either gel or macroporous and
because WAC resins are used widely in the soft drinks / brewing /
drinking water filter markets food grade versions are more common.
The trend to mainly producing macroporous WAC resins is due to
volume changes encountered between regenerated and exhausted
forms.

Anion Resins How do they vary?

You can change the DVB content, you can have gel or macroporous
versions, but the main difference in anion resins is determined by the
amine used to activate the resin.
A quaternary amine will give strong base activity, but you can vary the
temperature resistance, silica leakage and working capacity of the
resin depending on the quaternary amine used.
A tertiary amine will give weak base activity and other amines both
primary and secondary amines are found on certain weak base resins.

Anion Resins How do they vary?

The main anion active group options:
Strong base resins employ a quaternary ammonium groups.
Polystyrenic Strong base type 1 resins use (TMA)
Polystyrenic Strong base type 2 resins use (DMEA)
Polyacrylic Strong base resins uses a more complicated route by forming
the weak base anion first which is then converted to the strong base to give
a type 1 functionality.

Weak base employ a tertiary amino groups

Weak base polystyrenic resins predominantly use (DMA)
Weak base polyacrylic resins employ (DMPA)

Summary Slide 5 Synthetic Ion Exchange Resin Options (IWT Demineralisation)

Note*

1. The gel polystyrenic weak base resin is not manufactured.

2. The macroporous weak base acrylic is made but not normally
encountered in IWT Demineralisation.
3. This slide does not show all grading options.
Polystyrenic

SAC

Gel

Macro

DVB content

SBA

Gel

Macro

Polyacrylic
WBA

Gel

Macro

WAC

Gel

Amine activation

Macro

SBA

Gel

Macro

WBA

Gel

Macro