In modern petrochemical and chemical industries, process reliability, water purity, and catalyst protection are fundamental. Even trace impurities — such as metal ions, acids, or organics — can damage catalysts, foul equipment, and reduce yield.
Canftech ion exchange resins are engineered to perform consistently in demanding environments. They remove unwanted ions, neutralize acids, and recover valuable metals — ensuring operational stability, lower maintenance costs, and longer equipment life.
Properties and Environmental Benefits of Ion Exchange Resins
Ion exchange resins are insoluble polymeric matrices that contain exchangeable ions. Their insolubility makes them reusable and environmentally friendly since they can be regenerated and reused multiple times.
They can be used in both packed columns and chromatographic separations. Their versatility extends across various processes:
-
Water softening and demineralization
-
Wastewater treatment
-
Separation and purification
-
Catalyzed organic synthesis
-
Chromatography
Because of their reusability and effectiveness, ion exchange resins are among the most sustainable solutions for industrial purification and catalysis.
Applications in Petrochemical Processes
1. Water Softening and Demineralization
Water softening is a fundamental process in refineries and chemical plants. Hardness ions such as Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ cause scaling and reduce heat-transfer efficiency. Canftech strong acid cation (SAC) resins replace these ions with Na⁺ or H⁺, producing soft and demineralized water.
| Technical Parameter | Canftech TC008 | Canftech TC001D | Canftech TC004FG | Canftech TC115D Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Strong Acid Cation (SAC) | Strong Acid Cation (SAC) | Strong Acid Cation (Food Grade) | Weak Acid Cation (WAC) |
| Applications | Water Softening, Demineralization | Condensate Polishing | Potable Water | Dealkalization, Pre-treatment |
| Capacity (eq/L) | ≥ 2.0 | ≥ 1.8 | ≥ 1.8 | ≥ 4.7 |
| Moisture (%) | 43–48 | 45–50 | 54–62 | 45–55 |
| Max Temp (°C) | 120 | 140 | 120 | 120 |
| pH Range | 0–14 | 0–14 | 0–14 | 5–14 |
| Key Benefits | High capacity, long lifetime | Superior mechanical strength | Food-grade compliance | Ideal for pre-treatment |
2. Condensate Polishing and Boiler Feed Treatment
Condensate polishing resins remove trace impurities, silica, and anionic contaminants to maintain ultra-low conductivity in high-pressure boiler systems.
| Technical Parameter | Canftech TA207 | Canftech TA201D | Canftech TA312FB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Strong Base Anion (SBA) | Strong Base Anion (SBA) | Weak Base Anion (WBA) |
| Applications | Silica Removal, Demineralization | Acid and TOC Reduction | Deacidification |
| Capacity (eq/L) | ≥1.35 | ≥1.2 | ≥1.6 |
| Max Temp (°C) | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| pH Range | 0–14 | 0–14 | 0–9 |
| Key Benefits | High silica removal | Stable under alkaline conditions | Efficient organic removal |
3. Glycol Purification and Recovery
Glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG) are used as dehydrating and cooling agents. Over time, they accumulate impurities like salts and organic acids. Canftech SAC and WBA resins restore glycol purity, reduce corrosion, and extend glycol service life.
| Technical Parameter | Canftech TC001D | Canftech TA312FB |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Strong Acid Cation | Weak Base Anion |
| Applications | Glycol Purification | Acid Removal, Colour Reduction |
| Capacity (eq/L) | ≥1.8 | ≥1.6 |
| Max Temp (°C) | 140 | 60 |
| pH Range | 0–14 | 0–9 |
| Key Benefits | Stable in hot glycol | Excellent removal of organics |
4. Catalyst Protection and Acid Removal
Residual acids in petrochemical processes can deactivate catalysts. Canftech anion resins efficiently neutralise acidic species, maintaining catalyst performance.
| Technical Parameter | Canftech TA201D | Canftech TA207 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Strong Base Anion (SBA) | Strong Base Anion (SBA) |
| Application | Acid Retardation | Catalyst Protection |
| Capacity (eq/L) | ≥1.2 | ≥1.35 |
| pH Range | 0–14 | 0–14 |
| Max Temp (°C) | 60 | 60 |
| Key Benefits | Prevents catalyst poisoning | Enhances process stability |
5. Metal Removal and Refining Applications
Chelating resins selectively remove and recover valuable metals like Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and precious metals.
| Technical Parameter | Canftech CH030 | Canftech CH510 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Iminodiacetic Acid (IDA) | Isothiouronium |
| Applications | Heavy Metal Removal | Precious Metal Recovery |
| Max Temp (°C) | 70 | 60 |
| pH Range | 1–14 | 1–10 |
| Key Benefits | High metal selectivity | Efficient noble metal capture |
6. Ultra-Pure Water Production
Canftech mixed-bed resins produce ultrapure water for high-tech petrochemical and pharmaceutical applications.
| Technical Parameter | Canftech TY MB-E | Canftech TY MB-P |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mixed Bed (SAC + SBA) | Mixed Bed (High Purity) |
| Application | Ultrapure Water | Semiconductor Grade |
| Resistivity (MΩ·cm) | ≥18.2 | ≥18.2 |
| TOC Reduction (%) | ≥99.5 | ≥99.8 |
| Max Temp (°C) | 60 | 60 |
| Key Benefits | Lowest conductivity | Consistent water quality |
7. Ion Exchange Resins as Catalysts – Esterification Applications
Ion exchange resins are also widely used as solid acid catalysts in organic synthesis, particularly in esterification processes — one of the most important reactions in petrochemical industries.
Overview
Esterification produces valuable compounds such as acetates, acrylates, and maleates, used in adhesives, films, aromatic materials, fibres, and plastics. Canftech acid resins with sulfonic groups act as heterogeneous catalysts, providing cleaner reactions, easier separation, and reusability.
Esterification of Acetic Acid
Industrial acetic acid is commonly converted to acetates using ethanol or hexanol. Canftech SAC resins catalyse this process efficiently, replacing traditional liquid acids while avoiding corrosion and wastewater generation.
Esterification of Acrylic Acid
Ion exchange resins catalyse the esterification of acrylic acid to produce acrylate esters, used for polymer and copolymer synthesis. These reactions benefit from the high selectivity and reusability of Canftech catalysts.
Esterification of Lactic Acid
Canftech cationic resins are applied in the esterification of lactic acid in the presence of alcohols, enabling production of biodegradable polymer precursors with minimal by-products.
Esterification of Maleic Acid
Esterification of maleic acid yields dibutyl maleate — a valuable intermediate used as a plasticizer and copolymer component. The use of Canftech resins provides enhanced yield and simplified separation.
Key Advantages:
-
Reusable solid catalysts with long service life
-
Environmentally friendly (no corrosive acids)
-
High selectivity and conversion rate
-
Easy product separation and resin regeneration
8. Other Petrochemical Applications
Ion exchange resins also play crucial roles in many other refining and petrochemical operations:
-
Amine reclamation: regeneration of MEA, DEA, and MDEA streams.
-
Bisphenol-A synthesis: catalyst and purification support.
-
Chlor-alkali processes: purification of brine to protect electrolysis membranes.
-
Oil removal from condensate: hydrophobic resin phases absorb trace hydrocarbons.
-
Phenol alkylation and purification: resin-based selective adsorption.
-
Tannin and solvent removal: purification of organics and process water.
-
MTBE and TAME production: resin-catalysed etherification processes.
Ion exchange resins also assist in CO₂ capture, protecting chlor-alkali membranes, and treating harsh brines and electroplating baths by removing heavy metals and alkaline earth ions.
Advantages of Canftech Resins
-
High Ion-Exchange Capacity: maximises throughput and efficiency.
-
Thermal and Chemical Stability: suitable for hot and aggressive streams.
-
Reduced Operating Costs: low chemical consumption and regeneration frequency.
-
Long Service Life: strong mechanical integrity prevents breakage.
-
Environmentally Responsible: reusable solid matrix reduces waste generation.
-
Consistent Purity: uniform particle size ensures reproducible results.