LOW-SODIUM RESIN

Abstract

Provided is a method of removing sodium from a collection of sodium-laden resin beads comprising the steps of (a) providing the collection of sodium-laden resin beads, wherein the resin beads comprise one or more vinyl polymers having quaternary ammonium groups; wherein cation exchange resin, if present in the collection of resin beads, are present in an amount of 0 to 0.5% by weight based on the weight of the collection of resin beads; wherein 90 mole % or more of the quaternary ammonium groups are each associated with a hydroxide anion; wherein sodium is present in an amount of more than 100 ppb by weight, based on the weight of the collection of sodium-laden resin beads, and (b) bringing the collection of sodium-laden resin beads into contact with aqueous ammonium hydroxide to form a mixture (b).

Claims

1. A method of removing sodium from a collection of sodium-laden resin beads comprising the steps of (a) providing the collection of sodium-laden resin beads, wherein the resin beads comprise one or more vinyl polymers having quaternary ammonium groups; wherein cation exchange resin, if present in the collection of resin beads, are present in an amount of 0 to 0.5% by weight based on the weight of the collection of resin beads; wherein 90 mole % or more of the quaternary ammonium groups are each associated with a hydroxide anion; wherein sodium is present in an amount of more than 100 ppb by weight, based on the weight of the collection of sodium-laden resin beads, and (b) bringing the collection of sodium-laden resin beads into contact with aqueous ammonium hydroxide to form a mixture (b).

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step, subsequent to step (b), of separating water and compounds dissolved in the water from the mixture (b).

Description

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1C: WASHING THE RESIN WITH WATER

[0060] To a round-bottomed flask equipped with an overhead stirrer was added 125 mL of the resin beads followed by 77.65 mL of deionized water. The resulting mixture was agitated for 30 minutes, after which the agitation was stopped, and the aqueous solution was decanted. A 10 mL sample of the resin was removed for sodium analysis by ICP-MS.

EXAMPLE 2: WASHING THE RESIN WITH AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE

[0061] To a round-bottomed flask equipped with an overhead stirrer was added 125 mL of the resin beads followed by 77.65 mL of deionized water and 2.22 mL of a 28% by weight solution of ammonium hydroxide in water. The resulting mixture was agitated for 30 minutes, after which the agitation was stopped, and the aqueous solution was decanted. A 10 mL sample of the resin was removed for sodium analysis by ICP-MS.

EXAMPLE 3: RESULTS OF ICP-MS TESTING

[0062]

TABLE-US-00001 Sample Sodium concentration Comparative 1C 559 ppb by weight Example 2  27 ppb by weight

[0063] Example 2 had far lower concentration of sodium.