DELOACH BLOG

Extending the life of your ion exchange resin in boiler feed water applications

Did you know that when producing steam, it is most effectively accomplished by utilizing a decarbonation process? Decarbonation and Degasification is the most economical way to process fluent water pre-Ion exchange treatment through a vertically packed tower called a decarbonator, often called a degasifier.  This is the most economical method to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) to prevent the formation of carbonic acid. Other corrosive conditions are Degasification and Decarbonation, which will extend the life of the ion exchange resin. If CO2 levels remain high in the inlet feed water to the ion exchange system, the resin beds, whether cation or anion, will require more frequent regeneration, and your chemical usage and cost will rise.

In industrial applications, it’s easy to overlook.

Often, there is insufficient focus on selecting the right decarbonation or degasification system to ensure that the process water treatment system performs at the highest optimal level. For water filtration, when the primary process is membrane filtration, often referred to as “reverse osmosis, " too little attention is given to properly removing CO2 from the process to lower the pH and adjust the alkalinity. 

The Term referred to as “Degasification” or "Decarbonation" and how they work

Relates to the process of the removal of suspended gas or solids that are converted to a gas-based upon certain criteria during water filtration, treatment, membrane filtration, or attempting to adjust pH.   When removing (CO2) the process is often referred to as “Decarbonation”, when removing (H2S) the process is often referred to as “Degasification”. 

Degasification is the most economical method for

the removal of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Oxygen (0₂) can all be removed by “Degasification”.  The other variables are the total inlet water flow rate, the inlet feed temperature of the water, the ambient air temperature, the inlet concentrations that can be expressed as parts per billion (ppb), parts per million (ppm) or Mg/l, and the desired effluent removal levels also expressed in the same method.  It is also important to fully understand the actual application and the use of the water to determine how critical maintaining critical levels are and what impact variations will create for the final use.   Understanding these variables will aid you in the design of the system and any additional redundant systems needed to assure full compliance with standards.   

Maximizing and adjusting the pH of industrial water for degasification and decarbonation.

Maintaining Water Quality: Key to Effective Chemical Odor Control Treatment Systems

Do you need to remove or increase your reverse osmosis system's hydrogen sulfide removal efficiency?

The industrial water treatment market has many forms of water treatment processes. Most of us would agree that maintaining high water standards and quality requires using multiple treatment systems to achieve results.  Let’s face it, we do not win or get a “that a boy” when we design and build the best reverse osmosis system.

When we turn the brand-new water system on, the water has a "rotten egg odor." Yes, that is an embarrassing moment! 

The problem is we typically design around what we can see or read.  When was the last time you reviewed a water sample that provided details of how much-dissolved gas was in the water?  Most likely never.  A typical water treatment system may deploy reverse osmosis as the primary treatment method, and why true RO will remove particles that have size and weight (ions and molecules) typically defined as a certain size (micron), but RO does nothing to remove the dissolved gases that are already entrained within the water naturally or were created by adjusting the pH.  

Decarbonation is a critical process in water treatment, and understanding the impact of alkalinity is essential for its successful implementation.

Are pH and Alkalinity the Same? Balancing Alkalinity Levels for Optimal Water Quality

Choosing the Right Materials: Ensuring Certification and Performance in Water Treatment

Have you ever walked on a sidewalk or in a parking lot and passed by a lift station or manhole and noticed a smell so bad you thought you were going to pass out? 

Most people who encounter these types of odors do not live in the world of designing and building odor-control treatment systems.  For those of us who do we fully understand that when we encounter such a noxious smell it most likely needs an odor control system.  It does not matter if the odorous smell is coming from an industrial water treatment process, food and beverage plant, wastewater plant, or from the off-gas of a “degasification process”.  All of these types of industries and many more can generate odors and quite often these noxious odors must be addressed and treated because of either safety or public outcry. Many times odorous gases are generated as the result of processing and purifying drinking water.  When water contains contaminants like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), carbon dioxide (CO₂), or ammonia (NH₃) there is a need to treat and remove these harmful elements from the water. 

Odors come from many sources

When processing and purifying drinking water which requires pH adjustment by adding acid to lower the pH and allow for the removal of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) which will not convert at higher pH levels.  After the pH level is properly adjusted the hydrogen sulfide can be removed by degasification.  After the degasification process the pH will rise in the water from the removal of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) and if the pH remains slightly acidic then caustic is normally injected into the water stream to raise the pH back up to a neutral level of 7.  This entire required process to purify the water is what generates the odor and creates the requirement for an odor control scrubber.  Odor control scrubbers may utilize chemicals such as acid and caustic to treat the air gas noxious odor or it may be a biological Scrubber that consumes the contaminants within the noxious gas air stream including ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.  Noxious or corrosive odorous gases are not always from wastewater treatment plants or underground lift stations that are commonly referred to as “wet wells”.  Quite often odors are generated during manufacturing or food processing as well as from the efforts just mention in a municipal water treatment and purifying plan.  During the period of pH adjustment hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other odorous substances can be released by means of Decarbonation or Degasification.  Some odors have a pungent smell and other odors are harmful corrosive gases that must be contained to protect the surroundings or even human life.  There are many types of odors and off gases that must be contained, captured, treated, or neutralized.  Understanding the; who, what, where, and why, first will normally put you on the road to selecting the right solution for odor control.