ION EXCHANGE OUTSOURCING SODIUM SOFTENING WASTEWATER WATER REUSE

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Abstract

Salt is the most abundant, non-metallic natural mineral. U.S. salt reserves are estimated at 55 trillion metric tons. Plus the oceans contain 2.7% salt by weight. At the current world consumption rate of 240 million tons per year, the existing U.S. dry salt reserves are enough to supply our needs for more than 100,000 years. Unlike precious metals or oil, the world has an inexhaustible supply of salt. In 2009, the U.S. salt production equaled 27,329,000 tons with a market value of just under $2 billion. Of this, 66% of the salt was used for highway deicing, 13% for water conditioning (softener regeneration), 8% for chemical processing, and 6% for human consumption. Notwithstanding the natural prevalence of huge salt deposits located throughout the United States, China, and the world, concerns have been raised by conservationists over the impact that the discharge of salt brine has on the environment. Some areas have detected a gradual increase in dissolved solids in fresh water supplies. This is also known as total dissolved solids (TDS) ﾓcreepﾔ, which has been traced back to a corresponding increase in sodium chloride levels. Since TDS values greater than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) compromise the water quality used in agriculture, aquaculture, and potable water systems, regulators have been spurred to limit salt discharge into fresh water supplies and soils. In an effort to meet these restrictions, softener manufactures and owner/operators have been forced to improve the brine regeneration efficiency in residential and industrial water softeners.

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