HyPURE HyX Ion Exchange
Optimise your water treatment process with Hydroflux proprietary HyX® Ion Exchange system
The HyPURE HyX ion exchange system is a compact, robust and economical solution designed and manufactured by Hydroflux. With nearly 50 systems in operation or under construction, the HyPURE HyX system is setting a new standard for ion exchange processes.
Hydroflux has installed HyX systems is many applications including:
- Industrial Processes: For producing ultrapure water or removing specific impurities
- Wastewater and Ground Water Treatment: For removal of toxic metals or nutrients including PFAS
- Food and Beverage Industry: Decolorisation, purification, or flavour modification
Our most popular configurations are supplied with resins targeting
| HyX-P | PFAS removal |
| HyX-N | Nitrate removal |
| HyX-M | Heavy metal removal |
| HyX-H | Hardness removal |
What is Ion Exchange?
Ion exchange is a process used to remove or exchange ions (charged particles) in a solution. It typically involves passing the solution through a resin that contains active sites with exchangeable ions. The key purposes and functions of ion exchange include:
Water Softening
Removes hardness ions like calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) and replaces them with sodium (Na+) or potassium (K+) ions. Prevents scaling in pipes, boilers, and appliances.
Deionization (Demineralization)
Removes all dissolved ionic species (both cations and anions) from water. Commonly used in high-purity water production for industries like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and power generation.
PFAS removal
Specialised anion exchange resins can target per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), effectively binding these persistent organic pollutants. Ion exchange systems are often used as a polishing step after filtration or advanced oxidation processes for enhanced PFAS removal.
Selective Removal of Contaminants
Targets specific ions such as nitrates (NO3−), sulfates (SO42−), heavy metals, or radioactive ions. Useful in environmental remediation and wastewater treatment.
Is the Hydroflux HyX Ion Exchange system the most suitable solution?
While ion exchange is a process used to remove or exchange ions in a solution, Hydroflux offers alternative technologies that can achieve similar results, such as the HyPURE range of activated carbon filtration systems or reverse osmosis systems. The most suitable process depends on the specific substances to be targeted and removed, as well as the concentration of other substances in the feed water that could impact the performance or lifespan of the resins. Hydroflux always provides expert advice to ensure the most appropriate technology is recommended for each application.
Comparison of Hydroflux technologies to remove ions, salts and organics
| Parameter | Ion Exchange | Reverse Osmosis | Activated Carbon |
| Target | Specific ions | Dissolved salts | Organics, chlorine |
| Regeneration | Requires acids / alkalis | No regeneration needed | Requires reactivation |
| Efficiency | High for selective removal | Broad-spectrum removal | Limited to specific organics |
| Cost | Moderate (depends on resin life) | High (membrane cost) | Low (if infrequent reactivation) |
HyX Ion Exchange FAQs
Hydroflux will always select the most suitable resin based on the application however the ion exchange resins used by Hydroflux in water treatment are classified into cation exchange resins and anion exchange resins, each with strong and weak variations.
Cation exchange resins remove positively charged ions like calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), and heavy metals. Strong Acid Cation resins, containing sulfonic acid (-SO₃H) groups, are effective across a wide pH range and are commonly used for water softening and demineralisation. Weak Acid Cation resins, with carboxylic acid (-COOH) groups, are more selective for divalent cations and used for decarbonisation but do not remove sodium effectively.
Anion exchange resins remove negatively charged ions like chloride (Cl⁻), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), and nitrate (NO₃⁻). Strong Base Anion resins, with quaternary ammonium (-N⁺R₄) groups, remove both strong and weak acids and are used in demineralisation. Weak Base Anion resins, containing amine (-NH₂) groups, only remove strong acids and are effective for organic matter removal.
Specialised resins include mixed-bed resins for ultra-pure water, chelating resins for selective heavy metal removal, and macroporous resins designed to resist organic fouling.
Over time, resins become saturated with unwanted ions from the treated water, reducing their efficiency. Regeneration in ion exchange is the process of restoring exhausted resins to their original ionic form, allowing them to continue effectively removing contaminants.
The regeneration process typically involves four steps: backwashing, where water flushes the resin bed to remove trapped particles; chemical injection, where a regenerant solution (such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or sodium hydroxide) displaces the accumulated ions; slow rinsing, allowing full ion exchange between the resin and regenerant; and fast rinsing, which removes excess regenerant before the system returns to service.
Cation exchange resins are regenerated using acids like HCl or H₂SO₄ to restore the hydrogen (H⁺) form or sodium chloride (NaCl) for the sodium (Na⁺) form, while anion exchange resins are regenerated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to restore the hydroxide (OH⁻) form.
Proper regeneration is essential for maintaining resin performance, ensuring high water purity, and extending the lifespan of the ion exchange system and is an inclusive component in all Hydroflux ion exchange systems.
Resin capacity measures how many ions an ion exchange resin can remove before regeneration, expressed in milliequivalents per liter (meq/L). It depends on resin type, with strong acid cation (SAC) and strong base anion (SBA) resins having higher capacities than weak acid or base resins. Water composition, including competing ions like sodium or sulfate, can reduce capacity, while regeneration efficiency ensures full restoration of exchange sites.
Other factors affecting capacity include flow rate and contact time, where high flow reduces efficiency, and environmental conditions like temperature and pH, which impact resin stability. Organic fouling, iron buildup, and resin aging also degrade performance over time. Proper regeneration, system maintenance, and periodic resin replacement help sustain efficiency and extend operational life.
Due to the relative complexity of ion exchange systems, Hydroflux will typically provide a comprehensive service and maintenance contract for its customers which often includes remote monitoring to anticipate potential issues.
Key operational considerations for ion exchange systems include pre-treatment of feedwater, which is essential to protect the resin from fouling caused by suspended solids and organic matter. Effective pre-treatment also addresses issues like water hardness (calcium and magnesium), which can reduce resin capacity. Another critical factor is the flow rate, which needs to be optimised to ensure sufficient contact time between the water and resin.
Regular regeneration is vital to restoring the resin’s capacity. The amount of regenerant used and the duration of rinse cycles should be carefully managed to ensure complete ion exchange and remove residual chemicals that might contaminate treated water. Additionally, maintaining proper pH and temperature is important for resin stability. Extreme conditions can damage resins or affect their performance. Continuous monitoring of parameters such as conductivity, pH, and ion concentrations helps ensure the system operates efficiently and meets the required water quality standards. Finally, regular maintenance and periodic resin replacement are necessary to address the natural degradation of resins over time, ensuring long-term reliability and optimal system performance.
Hydroflux has installed many ion exchange systems for the treatment of incoming water in at Food and Beverage facilities. Ion exchange is commonly used by industry to ensure high-quality water that meets safety and quality standards required for production. It is particularly effective for softening water by removing calcium and magnesium ions, which can cause scaling in equipment and affect product consistency. Additionally, ion exchange is employed for demineralisation, producing ultrapure water by removing a broad spectrum of dissolved ions, ensuring that it is free from contaminants that could alter the taste, or appearance of food and beverages.
Design and Construct Capabilities
Ion exchange systems are often integrated as part of a broader treatment process. Hydroflux has the expertise and capability to deliver design-and-construct projects that incorporate a wide range of pretreatment technologies, including dissolved air flotation (DAF), clarification, multimedia filtration (MMF), and solids handling processes as required.
Hydroflux’s team includes qualified civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineers, as well as experienced project managers, site supervisors, commissioning engineers, and service technicians. With offices located across Australia, Hydroflux ensures a strong local presence throughout the duration of every project. All projects are carried out under externally certified occupational health and safety and environmental management systems.
Hydroflux designs and constructs comprehensive wastewater treatment systems that incorporate various types of processing equipment, including physical/chemical, biological, and tertiary treatment technologies to enable water reuse. Hydroflux treatment plant incorporating dissolved air flotation using HyDAF, HyPURE Multimedia Filtration and HyX ion exchange.
Sustainable Solutions
As Australia’s first certified carbon-neutral water and wastewater chemical supply and service business, we focus on sustainability. Developing and delivering sustainable solutions for treatment plant operation and maintenance is at the core of what we do. Our equipment is the most sustainable in the Australian and New Zealand market and is not just effective at protecting our valuable water resources but also carbon-neutral. Click here to find out what this means for you.
