Ion exchange performance to remove ammonium in drinking water was studied experimentally in batch and continuous operation systems under the various conditions. Data were collected using commercially available strong-acid cation-exchange resins of Na+ and H+ types. The performance wets evaluated using equilibrium concentrations for the batch system or the effluent concentration histories for the continuous column system as a function of time or the solution volume passed through the experimental column until resins were exhausted. With high temperature or low initial feed concentration, ammonium removal characteristics of the batch system increase. At the solution concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/L of NH4+-N and the temperatures of 15, 25, and 35 degreesC, the selectivity coefficients of resin were determined between 1.38 and 1.43 for Na+ type resin, and 3.22 and 3.47 for H+ type resin. The selectivity coefficient was correlated as a function of temperature using Kraus-Raridon equation. The breakthrough curves obtained from the continuous column operation give some results; i) with small column diameter or large column height, ii) with low initial feed concentration, iii) with law volumetric flow rate, or iv) with high solution temperature, the ammonium removal for the typical macroporous type resin increase. The results of this study could be scaled up and used as a design tool for the water-purification systems of the drinking water treatment processes.

Ion Exchange Denitrification Ammonium Removal Selectivity Coefficient

American Water Works Association, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th Ed., Washington, D.C. (1992)
Beler-Baykal B, Oldenburg M, Sekoulov I, Water Res., 28(9), 2039 (1994) 
Divekar SV, Foutch GL, Haub CU, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 26(9), 1906 (1987) 
Helfferich FG, "Ion Exchange," McGraw-Hill, New York (1962)
Kim SJ, Hwang KR, Cho SY, Moon H, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 16(5), 664 (1999)
Kraus KA, Raridon RJ, J. Phys. Chem., 63, 1901 (1959) 
Kraus KA, Raridon RJ, Holcomb DL, J. Chromatogr., 3, 178 (1960) 
Lee CW, "Ammonium and Nitrate Removal by Ion Exchange," M.S. Thesis, Dongeui University, Pusan, Korea (1999)
Myers GE, Boyd GE, J. Phys. Chem., 60, 521 (1956) 
Vermeulen T, Hiester NK, Chem. Eng. Process. Symp. Ser., 55(24), 61 (1959)
Yoon T, Moon BH, Noh BI, HWAHAK KONGHAK, 33(1), 121 (1995)
Yoon TK, Noh BI, Lee CW, Moon BH, Lee GC, Jo MC, J. Korean Ind. Eng. Chem., 10(2), 206 (1999)
Zechini EJ, "Solutions to Selected Problems in Multi-Component Mixed-Bed Ion Exchange Modeling," Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.A. (1990)