Method for contacting liquid with ion exchange resin

1. A method for contacting liquid with an ion exchange resin comprising introducing liquid into a process tank containing ion exchange resin at an inlet and removing liquid that has been contacted with resin from the process tank at an outlet, the outlet being located above the inlet, the process tank including a resin containment region disposed between the inlet and the outlet to impede the upward flow of resin as it becomes entrained in the liquid flowing from the inlet to the outlet, and a contactor region for promoting contact between the resin and the liquid located below the containment region, said containment region containing an array of settling members through which the liquid and resin upflow and which impede the flow of the resin to a sufficient extent that it is substantially contained within or below the containment region, wherein the process tank is in fluid communication with a resin regeneration system whereby resin can be removed from the process tank and at least a portion of the resin subjected to a regeneration process before the regenerated resin is returned to the contactor region of the process tank.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the resin has a density greater than the liquid.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the resin has a density at least 10% greater than the liquid.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the resin has a density at least 15% greater than the liquid.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the resin is magnetic ion exchange resin.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the resin is a macroporous ion-exchange resin having magnetic particles dispersed throughout the resin.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the settling members are arranged to promote agglomeration of the magnetic ion exchange resin.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the settling members are lamella plates, inclined plates, settling tubes or both.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the process tank includes one or more additional arrays of settling members within the containment region upstream from the array of settling members and which assist in containing the resin within or below the containment region.

10. The method according to claim 1 which includes an additional step of capturing residual resin carried through the outlet by an outflowing stream of resin contacted liquid.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the stream of the resin contacted liquid from the outlet is passed through a magnetic field provided by permanent magnets located within the stream.

12. The method according to claim 11 which includes a further step of releasing any resin retained by the magnetic field of the permanent magnets and capturing the released resin.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the residual magnetic resin is separated from the liquid stream of resin contacted liquid by locating a contact surface within the stream, locating permanent magnets behind the contact surface which provide a magnetic field that extends through the contact surface and into the stream and which is capable of attracting and retaining magnetic resin onto the contact surface and where the magnetic field can be reduced or removed in response to an actuation means so as to release resin retained on the contact surface.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the magnetic field is reduced or removed by moving the magnet away from the stream contact surface.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is water.