Leachables from Cation Resins in Demineralization and Polishing Plants and their Significance in Water/Steam Circuits

Abstract

All the resins in our water treatment plants release organic matter to some degree. This can be divided into two groups: that present initially and that due to ageing. The former can be largely removed by thoroughly cleaning of new resins before use. This paper focuses on cation resins. Even though the anion resins remove some of the leachables, the remainder enters the water/steam circuit of the boiler, where due to the high pressure and temperatures it decomposes into acetate, formate, carbonate and sulphate. These products can accumulate in the steam system leading to. initiation of corrosion during outages.