Adoucissement des eaux calciques par échange d'ions transmembranaire à travers des membranes homogenes obtenues par greffage radiochimique

The potential application of DONNAN dialysis to water softening has been studied. The selective transportation of calcium and alkaline-earth ions through a cationic membrane appeared to be an interesting process, since materials with both optimal exchange capacity and transportation properties exist now.

Preliminary investigations allowed us to optimize some of these materials, as well as the conditions of their use. Thus we have found that for the membranes handled, the 3.10-2 M concentration of brine represented the best compromise between the extraction of calcium and the leakage of chlorine through the membrane (relating to the water to be softened).

We also observed that for a low and a medium flow, the extraction rate was high enough to allow the release of calcium at a rate comparable to the classical ion-exchange process using a resin bed.