Hard Water – Get Rid Of It Using One Simple Device
Hard Water – Get Rid Of It Using One Simple Device
It can be very cost effective to soften hard water, as it does not readily form lather with soap. This causes the soap to be wasted when trying to form lather, and as a result a scum can form. Hard water may be easily treated to reduce the effects of scaling and to make it more usable for laundry and bathing.
The Process
A water softener works on the idea of cation or ion exchange in which ions of the hardness minerals are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions, consequently reducing the concentration of hardness minerals to tolerable levels.
One of the most economical ways to soften household water is with an ion exchange water softener. This unit uses table salt (sodium chloride) to recharge beads made up of the ion exchange resin that exchange hardness mineral ions for sodium ions. As the hard water passes in between and around the beads, the hardness mineral ions are absorbed, displacing the sodium ions. This process is called ion exchange.
When the bead or sodium zeolite has a low concentration of sodium ions left, it is no longer effective, and therefore is unable to soften water. However, if the resin is recharged by flushing (often back-flushing) with saltwater it can be re-used. The high excess concentration of sodium ions alter the equilibrium between the ions in solution and the ions held on the surface of the resin, resulting in replacement of the hardness mineral ions on the resin with sodium ions. After this the resulting saltwater and mineral ion solution must then rinsed away, and the resin is ready to start the process all over again. This cycle can be repeated over and over to re-charge the device.
In industry, the same softening process methods are used, but on a much larger scale. These methods create an large amount of salty water that is costly dispose of. Temporary hardness, caused by hydrogen carbonate (or bicarbonate) ions, can be removed by boiling. For example, calcium hydrogen carbonate, often present in temporary hard water, is boiled in a kettle to remove the hardness. In the process, a scale forms on the inside of the kettle in a process known as “furring of kettles”. This scale is composed of calcium carbonate.
Hardness can also be reduced with a lime-soda ash treatment. In 1841, a process was developed by Thomas Clark that involves the addition of slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) to a hard water supply which converts the hydrogen carbonate hardness to carbonate, which precipitates and can be removed by filtration:
The addition of sodium carbonate also softens hard water containing calcium sulphate, as the calcium ions form calcium carbonate which precipitates out and sodium sulphate is formed which is soluble. The calcium carbonate formed sinks to the bottom, and the sodium sulphate has no effect on the hardness of water.
As you can see there are some relatively simple ways to eradicate hard water from your water supply, as well as the hard water stains that it causes. The processes have been around for a long time in some cases, and are available to use to stop the negative effects that having hard water in your home can bring.
Warm Regards,
Patrick Henry
HardWaterStainsTips
Visit our popular website at http://www.hardwaterstainstips.com
Email us with any questions or queries at support@hardwaterstainstips.com
Patrick Henry BEng (Hons), is a recognised industry expert in removing hard water stains. With an honours degree in Chemical Engineering, he teaches people how to remove stubborn hard water stains and limescale using a step by step guide. He is author of the ebook “Hard Water Stain Removal Secrets Revealed”. Complete information on his popular ebook is available from his web site. And while your there, don’t forget to subscribe to his FREE report.
Article from articlesbase.com