Water Softening with Potassium Chloride Process, Health, and Environmental Benefits

by McEachern, Rod; Wist, William; Lehr, Jay H.

• ISBN13: 9780470087138
• ISBN10: 0470087137
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780470529041
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-10-05
• Publisher: Wiley
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Potassium chloride is a logical alternative to sodium chloride in water softening. Water Softening with Potassium Chloride provides a thorough overview of the process, the equipment, and the techniques used. Then it compiles diverse trade and technical data on water softening with potassium chloride so readers can make informed decisions. It documents the health and environmental consequences and benefits of using potassium chloride and includes a chapter with summaries of recent research projects and FAQs. This is a key reference for professional water treatment specialists, environmental science researchers, and others.

Author Biography

William Wist (deceased) spent eleven years and Central Canada Potash as a lab technician, senior chemist, and chief chemist. After joining Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. in 1980 as chief chemist, he set up and equipped a new research and development laboratory for them. From 1988 until his retirement in 2005, he was chief chemist and pilot plant supervisor. Bill spearheaded the research and development of the use of potassium chloride as a water softening regenerant, in addition to other projects involving potash product quality and analytical procedures. Jay H. Lehr holds a PhD in environmental science from the University of Arizona and an engineering degree from Princeton University. He is the author of twenty-eight books and over 600 journal and magazine articles. He has taught at the University of Arizona and The Ohio State University, directed a professional society of environmental scientists, and formed a variety of environmental teaching and consulting firms. Rod McEachern holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan. He currently works as the Director of RD with the potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. in Saskatoon, Canada. His research interests include the application of new technology to environmental stewardship through air pollution abatement equipment, improved waste management practices, and process improvements to potash operations.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
What Is Potassium Chloride?	p. 1
Saskatchewan Potash History	p. 2
Potash Mining	p. 3
Solution Mining	p. 9
Storage, Transportation, and Distribution of Potash	p. 27
Potash Products	p. 29
What Is Hard Water?	p. 34
Definition of Hard Water	p. 34
How Hard Water is Created	p. 35
Problems Associated With Hard Water	p. 37
How Hard Water is Measured	p. 39
Uniform Degrees of Hardness	p. 40
Types of Hardness	p. 40
Lowering Water Hardness	p. 43
Ion Exchange	p. 44
Deionization or Demineralization	p. 45
Reverse Osmosis	p. 47
Distillation	p. 49
The Ion Exchange Process	p. 54
Synthesis and Structure of Ion Exchange Resins	p. 55
Types of Ion Exchange Resins	p. 56
Household Water Softening	p. 57
Typical Household Water Softeners	p. 59
Cocurrent and Countercurrent Regeneration	p. 64
Mathematical Treatment of Ion Exchange Equilibria	p. 66
Selectivity of Ion Exchange Reactions	p. 75
Basic Chemistry of Ion Exchange	p. 78
The Building Blocks of Matter	p. 78
Atomic and Molecular Weights	p. 80
Cations and Anions	p. 83
Chemical Reactions	p. 84
Operation And Types of Water Softeners	p. 86
Historical Methods of Regeneration	p. 86
Operation of a Typical Water Softener	p. 87
Common Sequences of Cycles	p. 93
Types of Water Softeners	p. 93
Sizing a Water Softener	p. 96
Potassium Chloride Regenerant For Water Softening	p. 99
Alternate Regenerants	p. 99
Potassium Chloride Regenerant	p. 101
Initial Comparison of KC1 and NaCl	p. 102
Challenges When Using KC1 as a Regenerant	p. 110
Frequently Asked Questions	p. 112
Comparison Of KCl and NaCl as Regenerant	p. 115
Definition of Terms	p. 115
Theoretical Capacities of KCl and NaCl Regenerants	p. 118
Calculation of Regeneration Efficiency	p. 120
Sizing a Softener for Salt Efficiency	p. 121
Implications for Salt Consumption	p. 123
Total Salt released to the Environment	p. 127
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Solubility	p. 129
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Speed of Dissolution	p. 130
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Capacity	p. 132
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Used and Unused Regenerant	p. 135
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Release of Chlorides to the Environment	p. 138
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Taste	p. 139
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Generation of Fines	p. 144
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Sodium Content of Softened Water	p. 145
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Potassium Content of Softened Water	p. 154
Comparison of KCl and NaCl: Total Dissolved Solids	p. 154
Environmental Considerations	p. 157
Potassium versus Sodium: Impact on Soil	p. 159
Potassium versus Sodium: Impact on Septic Systems	p. 162
Potassium versus Sodium: Impact on Sewage Treatment Systems	p. 164
Potassium versus Sodium: Sewage Sludge	p. 166
Potassium versus Sodium: Impact on Plants and Animals	p. 169
Potassium versus Sodium: Use of Recycled Graywater	p. 170
Recycling Regenerant Wastewater	p. 171
Use of Regenerant Wastewater Studies at University of California, Davis	p. 172
In Conclusion	p. 177
Potassium And Human Health	p. 183
Overview	p. 183
Introduction	p. 184
Cellular Physiology of Potassium	p. 184
Potassium Balance	p. 186
Defects in Potassium Elimination	p. 188
Medical Conditions Related to Potassium Excess	p. 189
Medical Conditions Related to Potassium Deficit	p. 191
Indirect Role of Potassium in Health	p. 199
Summary	p. 200
Ongoing Research	p. 209
Iron and Manganese Removal	p. 209
Grade of KCl Regenerant	p. 213
Cocurrent versus Countercurrent Regeneration	p. 215
Portable Exchange Tanks	p. 217
Research into Alternate Regenerants
Standard Test Protocol for Comparison of KCl and NaCl Regenerants	p. 23
Protocol Development	p. 223
Standard Test Protocol	p. 226
Laboratory Data Obtained with the Standard Test Protocol	p. 233
Accelerated Mush Test	p. 243
Apparatus
Method	p. 244
Index	p. 245
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