Cartridge for the treatment of drinking water and method for purifying drinking water

Abstract

A cartridge for treating drinking water, the cartridge comprising a mixture of an ion-exchange material, one part of which is a highly acidic ion-exchange material and another part of which is a weakly acidic ion-exchange material, wherein one of the materials is loaded with alkali ions or alkaline earth ions.

Claims

1. A cartridge for treating drinking water, comprising: at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, wherein the first part of the ion-exchange material is loaded with the alkaline earth ions to at least 60% of its capacity.

2. The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material are provided in form of a mixed granulated material.

3. The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material are provided in form of ion-exchange non-woven fabrics.

4. The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material are provided in a ratio from 1:9 to 9:1.

5. The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge is adapted for use in a gravity-operated household water filter, and wherein the cartridge includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet such that the cartridge is insertable into a hopper into which water can be filled.

6. The cartridge for treating drinking water as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part is loaded with magnesium ions.

7. A method for treating drinking water using a cartridge for treating drinking water, the cartridge having at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, the method comprising: passing the drinking water through an ion-exchange material which comprises a mixture of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and a weakly acidic ion-exchange material, wherein one of the highly acidic ion-exchange material or the weakly acidic ion-exchange material is at least partially loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, wherein the highly acidic ion-exchange material is loaded with hydrogen ions, and wherein the drinking water is acidified to a pH of less than 3.

8. A cartridge for treating drinking water, comprising: at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with hydrogen ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state is predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and wherein highly acidic and weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, wherein the first part of the ion-exchange material is loaded with the hydrogen ions to at least 50% of its capacity.

9. A cartridge for treating drinking water, comprising: at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge; wherein the first and second parts of the ion-exchange material comprise ion-exchange non-woven fabrics.

10. A method for treating drinking water using a cartridge for treating drinking water, the cartridge having at least one chamber including an ion-exchange material, a first part of which is provided in form of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominantly loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, and a second part of which is provided in form of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material and in its delivered state predominately loaded with hydrogen ions, wherein the highly acidic and the weakly acidic ion-exchange materials are combined in the chamber of the cartridge, the method comprising: passing the drinking water through an ion-exchange material which comprises a mixture of a highly acidic ion-exchange material and a weakly acidic ion-exchange material, wherein one of the highly acidic ion-exchange material or the weakly acidic ion-exchange material is at least partially loaded with alkaline earth ions, wherein the alkaline earth ions are predominantly magnesium ions, wherein the weakly acidic ion-exchange material is loaded with hydrogen ions, and wherein the drinking water is acidified to a pH of not less than 4.2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cartridge for a gravity-operated household water filter.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a cartridge which is adapted for connection to a drinking water conduit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cartridge 1 for a gravity-operated household water filter such as it may be inserted into a hopper (not shown).

(5) The basic principle of such a cartridge is known.

(6) In the present exemplary embodiment, cartridge 1 is a cartridge with flow reversal in which the water to be treated enters via an inlet 3 into a chamber 2 which is filled with an ion-exchange material 5.

(7) The ion-exchange material 5 is provided in granulated form.

(8) In this exemplary embodiment, the bottom of the cartridge has no opening, rather the water leaves the cartridge 1, after flow reversal, through a tubular outlet 4 (the path of the water is marked by arrows).

(9) However, it will be understood that the invention is also provided for cartridges without flow reversal, which in particular have an apertured cartridge bottom that serves as an outlet (not shown).

(10) In this exemplary embodiment, the granulated material 5 is a mixture of a highly acidic ion-exchange material which in its delivered state is predominantly loaded with magnesium, and a weakly acidic ion-exchange material which in its delivered state is predominantly loaded with hydrogen.

(11) In this manner, the drinking water to be treated can be enriched with magnesium ions. Furthermore, the acidification of the drinking water is reduced.

(12) When compared to the conditioning of a material with two different ion species, this permits a simplified manufacturing.

(13) The properties of the treated water with respect to pH and magnesium content can be adjusted through the ratio of weakly acidic granulate and highly acidic granulate used.

(14) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a cartridge 10 which is adapted for connection to a drinking water conduit, in particular to the conduit of a device for preparing hot beverages, such as used in gastronomy, for example.

(15) Cartridge 10 comprises a housing 13 with a connection 11, through which water flows into the housing 13 of cartridge 10.

(16) The treated drinking water leaves the cartridge via connection 12 and can be supplied for further use.

(17) The path of the water is again indicated by arrows.

(18) Inlet connection 11 is connected to a downpipe 14 through which the water to be treated is fed into the bottom of the housing 13 of cartridge 10.

(19) The interior of cartridge 10 is filled with an ion-exchange material 5 which comprises a mixture of a granulate of a highly acidic ion-exchange material predominantly loaded with magnesium and a granulate of a weakly acidic ion-exchange material which is predominantly converted into the hydrogen form in its delivered state.

(20) The water rising from the cartridge bottom due to the pressure of the following inflowing water rises in the housing and passes through the ion-exchange material 5 and exits cartridge 10 through outlet 12.

(21) The invention permits to provide a cartridge which can be adapted in a very simple manner with respect to the desired properties of the treated drinking water. At the same time, the selectivity with respect to alkali ions and alkaline earth ions, in particular with respect to magnesium, is improved, which results in a more uniform release.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(22) 1 Cartridge 2 Chamber 3 Inlet 4 Outlet 5 Granulated material 10 Cartridge 11 Connection 12 Connection 13 Housing 14 Downpipe