Acid regeneration of ion exchange resins for industrial applications
First Claim
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1. A dispensing system employing an ion exchange resin regenerated by an acid comprising:
- a water inlet for providing a water source to a water conditioning unit, wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit;
a functional ingredient inlet for providing additional functional ingredients to a water conditioning unit, wherein the functional ingredient inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit;
a water conditioning unit comprising a water treatment component housed within, wherein said water treatment component comprises at least one weak acid and/or strong acid ion exchange resin capable of generating a treated water source by exchanging protons on said resin for dissolved cations including water hardness ions and total dissolved solids in said water source;
an outlet for providing the treated water source to a water delivery line, wherein the water delivery line is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit and a blending unit, wherein the blending unit generates and/or dispenses a use solution of a cleaning composition by combining the treated water source with a concentrated cleaning composition; and
wherein the treated water source meets a defined water specification, and wherein the water specification is a softened, acidic water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) below about 200 ppm, a hardness level of less than about 2 grains and a pH less than about 6.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for employing softened acidified water sources from an acid regenerated ion exchange resins are disclosed. Various methods of dispensing and/or using the softened acidic water generated by an acid regenerate-able ion exchange resin are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, including water conditioning agents, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dispensing system employing an ion exchange resin regenerated by an acid comprising:
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a water inlet for providing a water source to a water conditioning unit, wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit; a functional ingredient inlet for providing additional functional ingredients to a water conditioning unit, wherein the functional ingredient inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit; a water conditioning unit comprising a water treatment component housed within, wherein said water treatment component comprises at least one weak acid and/or strong acid ion exchange resin capable of generating a treated water source by exchanging protons on said resin for dissolved cations including water hardness ions and total dissolved solids in said water source; an outlet for providing the treated water source to a water delivery line, wherein the water delivery line is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit and a blending unit, wherein the blending unit generates and/or dispenses a use solution of a cleaning composition by combining the treated water source with a concentrated cleaning composition; and wherein the treated water source meets a defined water specification, and wherein the water specification is a softened, acidic water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) below about 200 ppm, a hardness level of less than about 2 grains and a pH less than about 6. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of generating a use solution of a cleaning composition employing a water source from an ion exchange resin regenerated by an acid comprising:
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providing a water source to a water conditioning unit comprising;
a water inlet for providing the water source, wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit;
a functional ingredient inlet for providing additional functional ingredients, wherein the functional ingredient inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit, and wherein the additional functional ingredients include surfactants, wetting agents, sanitizing agents, sterilizing agents, acidic detergents, enzymatic detergents, and combinations thereof;
a water treatment component housed within the water conditioning unit, wherein said water treatment component comprises at least one weak acid and/or strong acid ion exchange resin capable of generating a treated water source by exchanging protons on said resin for dissolved cations including water hardness ions and total dissolved solids in said water source; and
an outlet for providing the treated water source to a water delivery line, wherein the water delivery line is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit and a blending unit;generating the treated water source, wherein the treated water source meets a defined water specification, and wherein the water specification is a softened, acidic water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) below about 200 ppm, a hardness level of less than about 2 grains and a pH less than about 6; and providing the treated water source to the blending unit to generate and/or dispense a use solution of a cleaning composition by combining the treated water source with a concentrated cleaning composition. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of cleaning using a cleaning solution generated on-site employing a water source from an ion exchange resin regenerated by an acid comprising:
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providing a water source to a water conditioning unit comprising;
a water inlet for providing the water source, wherein the water inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit;
a functional ingredient inlet for providing additional functional ingredients, wherein the functional ingredient inlet is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit, and wherein the additional functional ingredients include surfactants, wetting agents, sanitizing agents, sterilizing agents, acidic detergents, enzymatic detergents, and combinations thereof;
a water treatment component housed within the water conditioning unit, wherein said water treatment component comprises at least one weak acid and/or strong acid ion exchange resin capable of generating a treated water source by exchanging protons on said resin for dissolved cations including water hardness ions and total dissolved solids in said water source; and
an outlet for providing the treated water source to a water delivery line, wherein the water delivery line is in fluid communication with the water conditioning unit and a blending unit;generating the treated water source, wherein the treated water source meets a defined water specification, and wherein the water specification is a softened, acidic water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) below about 200 ppm, a hardness level of less than about 2 grains and a pH less than about 6; providing the treated water source to the blending unit to generate and/or dispense a use solution of a cleaning composition by combining the treated water source with a concentrated cleaning composition; and contacting a surface and/or substrate in need of cleaning with the use solution of the cleaning composition. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification