Field Trial of Solar-Powered Ion-Exchange Resin for the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Process

Abstract

Water scarcity is currently one of the world’s major issues. Water treatment technologies are a solution to the water crisis problems. In this study, the outcomes of pre-pilot scale testing of solar-powered Ion-exchange resin technology is presented. The tests were carried out using industrial wastewater at the Kungrad Soda Plant located in Kungrad, Uzbekistan. From the plant, about 1500 m3/day of waste water containing total dissolved solids (TDS) is discharged into the environment. In order to reduce the negative impact on the environment and to reuse waste water, the factory proposed conducting water purification tests from unwanted ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, SO42−, dissolved CO2). During the test of the technology, water with a TDS of about 2000 ppm was passed through the ion-exchange resin and clean water of around 30 ppm was obtained (purify up to 98–99%). However, according to the requirement of the plant, a certain amount of daily water is purified and added to the total water, and no more than 1600 ppm water is produced and sent for reuse. Experiments have been successfully carried out on a pre-pilot scale using this technology.

Keywords

• wastewater treatment
• ion-exchange resin
• solar power
• pre-pilot scale test