Resin Fouling - Calcium Sulfate Fouling of Cation Resin

How to treat calcium sulfate fouling in cation resin.

Cation resins that have been fouled with calcium sulfate can be remediated by the following procedure:

1. Severely backwash the unit until the backwash effluent is clear.

2. Air lance and agitate the bed as much as possible.

3. Severely backwash the vessel again until the backwash effluent is clear.

4. Rinse the unit using the service flow rate (warm water preferred) for at least five bed volumes in an attempt to re-dissolve the calcium.

If the above does not substantially decrease the calcium on the resin, a dosing of the resin with 10% hydrochloric acid is required. Check the vessel and internals materials of construction before contact with hydrochloric acid.