Acrylate-Based Weakly Acidic Cationic Ion Exchange Resins

Ion exchange resins have many applications - in water treatment, wastewater treatment boiler feed/condensate treatment, sugar refining, pharmaceuticals & biotechnology, and in chemical processes as catalysts.

Most commercial weakly acidic cationic (WAC) resins are based on acrylate or methacrylate esters; these esters are copolymerized with divinylbenzene (DVB), and then subjected to hydrolysis.

In this review, we present a conceptual design for a plant producing WAC resins, based on a patent from Dow Chemical using mixed acrylate esters for improved mechanical properties. The design includes copolymerization of the esters with DVB, followed by alkaline hydrolysis and acidification of the resin to the free-acid form.

This report will be of interest to managers working producers and consumers of ion exchange resins, companies considering entering the ion exchange market, researchers in the ion exchange field, and analysts of the companies that are active in ion exchange or in competing technologies.

This review is complementary to the PEP Report 124A, Ion Exchange Resins