Chementator briefs

New IX resin Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany; www.lewatit.com has added Lewatit TP 308 to its range of selective ion-exchange (IX) resins, which are suitable for the purification of lithium salt solutions. The macroporous Lewatit TP 308 has been developed specifically to treat low-concentration lithium salt solutions (<2 g/L) containing alkali, alkaline earth and heavy metals at relatively high concentrations, ranging from 100 mg up to several grams per liter. Such solutions occur, for example, during the treatment of geothermal brine following the desorption from primary adsorber material. The removal of the polyvalent ions — mainly calcium — from these solutions takes place very efficiently, with low leakage, and at high flowrates owing to the exceptional exchange kinetics. At the same time, the pressure drop across the resin bed is low. The resin has a high total capacity of more than 4.3 equivalents per liter, which translates into longer intervals between the regeneration phases than standard resins. This reduces the amount of regeneration chemicals and water required, the company says.