What Is Resin Regeneration?

Over time, contaminant ions bind to all available exchange sites in the IX resin. Once the resin is exhausted, it must be restored for further use through what is called a regeneration cycle. During a regeneration cycle, the IX reaction is essentially reversed by using a concentrated regenerant solution. Depending on the type of resin and the application at hand, the regenerant may be a salt, acid, or alkaline solution. As the regeneration cycle progresses, the IX resin releases contaminant ions, exchanging them for ions in the regenerant solution. The contaminant ions will leave the IX system as part of the regenerant effluent stream and need to be properly drained. In most cases, the resin will need to be flushed to remove any residual regenerant before the next active IX cycle.