DE102018116266A1 - Cartridge for the treatment of drinking water and process for the enrichment of drinking water with silicon - Google Patents

Abstract

Cartridge and process for enriching drinking water with silicon. A strongly basic anion exchanger loaded with silicate is used, which is mixed with a cation exchanger which is preferably loaded with hydrogen. Silicon can be released into the water via the anion exchanger. At the same time, nitrates, sulfate and / or chlorides are removed.

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cartridge for treating drinking water, by means of which the drinking water is enriched and / or softened with silicon. In particular, the invention relates to a cartridge for a table water filter, for an under-table filter or for a machine for preparing hot and / or cold drinks.

The invention further relates to a method for treating drinking water and a method for producing an ion exchange material for enriching drinking water with silicon.

Background of the Invention

The invention relates to a cartridge for treating drinking water and to a method for enriching drinking water with silicon.

Drinking water generally has only a small amount of silicon. Silicon is a so-called ultra trace element, which the human body needs and which is beneficial for health in many cases. Silicon deficiency can cause health consequences such as hair loss, brittle nails, disturbed collagen formation and decreasing elasticity of the skin and blood vessels as well as osteoporosis. A number of diseases, such as diabetes, neurodermatitis, arteriosclerosis, kidney stones and goiter formation, are also associated with silicon deficiency. As you age, the amount of silicon in some tissues, such as blood vessels, bones, and skin, may decrease.

It is therefore important to provide the body with a sufficient amount of silicon.

Preparations containing silicon, such as silica, are known. In this way, silica can also be suspended in drinking water.

However, since silica is only sparingly soluble in water, the bioavailability with regard to silicon is only low for silica. As a result, only a small part of the silicon in the absorbed silica gets into the bloodstream.

Furthermore, it is known from practice to add strongly alkaline sodium silicates to the water stream by means of a metering pump. However, such processes are complex and are not very suitable for producing small amounts of drinking water. Corresponding methods are therefore primarily used for corrosion protection, in particular in industrial plants, since a protective layer forms on the lines, in particular when using water glass.

Object of the invention

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of providing a cartridge or a method for treating drinking water with which drinking water can be enriched with silicon in a simple and efficient manner.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is already achieved by a cartridge for treating drinking water, by a method for treating drinking water, and by a method for producing an ion exchange material according to one of the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments and developments of the invention can be found in the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The invention relates to a cartridge for the treatment of drinking water.

The cartridge is in particular designed as a cartridge for a table water filter, a machine for preparing hot and / or cold drinks and / or for an under table water filter.

In particular, the cartridge contains 20 to 10,000 ml, preferably 80 to 200 ml, of ion exchange material. For the purposes of the invention, the volume of the ion exchange material, which is in particular in the form of granules, relates to the volume of the material in the wet state.

According to the invention, the cartridge comprises both an anion exchanger loaded with silicate and a cation exchanger.

The cation exchanger is preferably loaded with at least hydrogen, in particular at least 10%, preferably at least 30%, of its total capacity.

Information on the loading of ion exchange material in the sense of the invention is based in particular on the DIN 54402: 2009-04 "Testing of ion exchangers - Determination of the total capacity of anion exchangers" and, with regard to cation exchangers, based on the DIN 54403: 2009-04 ,

It has been shown that it is possible to simply release silicon into the drinking water using an anion exchanger which is loaded with silicate.

Combined with a cation exchanger, a filter cartridge can be provided that both softens the drinking water and adds silicon to the drinking water.

Anion and cation exchangers can in particular be present in a volume ratio of 1:10 to 10: 1, preferably 1: 3 to 3: 1.

The anion exchanger loaded with silicate is preferably loaded with at least 10%, particularly preferably at least 30% and very particularly preferably at least 90%, of its total capacity with silicate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the anion exchanger loaded with silicate is designed as a strongly basic anion exchanger.

In the context of the present invention, a strongly basic or weakly acidic ion exchange material is understood to mean, in particular, a material such as in Hartinger, Ludwig, “Handbook of Waste Water and Recycling Technology for the Metalworking Industry”, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, Vienna 1991. According to chapter 5.2.3.3 of this handbook, a distinction is made between ion exchangers and anion exchangers. Cation exchangers can be divided into strongly acidic and weakly acidic and anion exchangers into strongly basic and weakly basic exchange resins, which behave accordingly as strong or weak acids or as strong or weak bases in the exchange reactions.

It has been found that strongly basic anion exchangers have a higher silicate capacity than weakly basic anion exchangers.

Weakly basic anion exchangers in which the ion exchange material is coated with iron oxide, for example, can also be used. Such an ion exchanger is commercially available, for example, under the trade name LEWATIT® FO 36.

However, a strongly basic anion exchanger is preferably used, in particular a polystyrene-based ion exchanger, which in particular comprises a quaternary amine as a functional group.

It is preferably an anion exchanger of type 1. This contains a quaternized functional amino group which is more basic than type 2 of the ion exchange materials.

Such ion exchange materials are commercially available, for example, under the trade names LEWATIT® S6368A and LEWATIT® S6268.

The use of strongly basic anion exchangers of type 2, which likewise have a quaternary amine as the main functional group, is also conceivable.

However, it is particularly preferred to use an anion exchanger which has a higher selectivity for nitrate than for sulfate.

In particular, an anion exchange material is used whose selectivity for nitrate is at least twice as high as for nitrate and / or as with standard anion exchange resins.

Normally, nitrate is behind sulfate in the affinity series. This means that in the case of water containing sulfate and nitrate, sulfate and not nitrate is preferably exchanged for the silicate anions.

However, there are ion exchange materials that have a higher affinity or selectivity for nitrate than for sulfate and that can remove nitrate from drinking water in a targeted manner.

These are also, in particular, polystyrene-based anion exchange resins.

Such an ion exchange material with higher selectivity towards nitrate is commercially available, for example, under the trade name LEWATIT® MonoPlus SR 7.

In contrast, the cation exchanger is preferably designed as a weakly acidic ion exchanger, in particular as a weakly acidic ion exchange resin.

Such an ion exchange material is commercially available, for example, under the trade name LEWATIT® S8229.

As described above, the cation exchange material is preferably charged with hydrogen to soften the water.

According to a development of the invention, the cation exchanger is also with other substances, in particular minerals, such as Magnesium, lithium, potassium and / or zinc, loaded, preferably at least 5%, particularly preferably at least 20%, of its total capacity.

In addition to silicon, other trace elements can be added to the drinking water.

Cation and anion exchangers are preferably in the form of a mixed bed, in particular in the form of mixed granules.

If further trace elements are to be added via the cation exchanger, it is both conceivable to add a cation exchange material which is predominantly, in particular completely, loaded with the further element or elements.

It is also conceivable to load one and the same ion exchange material partly with hydrogen and partly with another type of ion, such as sodium, lithium, potassium or zinc.

The invention further relates to a cartridge for a table water filter, a machine for the preparation of beverages or an under-table water filter, in particular a cartridge as described above.

According to the invention, the cartridge comprises an anion exchanger loaded with silicate.

The invention further relates to a table water filter, a machine for the preparation of beverages, in particular hot and / or cold beverages, and an under table water filter which comprises the cartridge described above.

The invention further relates to a method for the treatment of drinking water, in particular using a cartridge, as described above.

The method is carried out in particular with one of the ion exchange materials described above.

In particular, the method for producing a beverage, in particular a hot or cold beverage, is carried out.

According to the invention, the drinking water to be treated is passed over an anion exchanger loaded with silicate and thereby enriched with silicon.

Enrichment with silicon preferably takes place at least also by exchanging silicate for nitrate.

For this purpose, especially as described above, an anion exchanger with a higher selectivity towards nitrate than towards sulfate is preferably used.

However, sulfate and / or chlorides can also be replaced by silicate by the process according to the invention.

The method is preferably set with regard to the residence time and amount of the ion exchange material such that 1 to 50 mg / l silicon, preferably 3 to 10 mg / l silicon, are added to the drinking water to be treated.

The drinking water to be treated is preferably softened at the same time, in particular with one of the cation exchange materials described above.

The invention further relates to a method for producing an ion exchange material which is used to enrich drinking water with silicon.

According to the invention, an anion exchanger is converted into the silicate form by a basic silicate solution, in particular by a sodium silicate solution.

In particular, it is provided that a strongly basic anion exchanger, which is present, for example, in chloride form, is provided and a sodium silicate solution is passed over the anion exchanger. The counter ion of the anion exchanger is exchanged for the silicate anions and the ion exchanger is converted into the silicate form.

This is done, for example, using the following simplified schematic reaction equation with chloride as the reactant (it goes without saying that these are equilibrium reactions that can also proceed in the other direction): 2 R _A Cl + SiO ₃ ^2- → R _A2 SiO ₃ + 2 Cl ^-

Subsequently, the anion exchanger is preferably rinsed with water to remove the alkalinity and is then available for operation.

The anion exchanger can in particular, as described above, be used with a cation exchanger for the simultaneous softening of the water.

In normal operation, the anion exchanger now exchanges the absorbed silicate for the one contained in the water Anions, especially against nitrate, from what is also shown below in a simplified schematic reaction equation (with nitrate as the reaction partner): R _A2 SiO ₃ + 2 NO ₃ ^- + H ₃ O ⁺ → 2 R _A NO ₃ + HSiO ₃ ^- + H ₂ O

In addition to an enrichment with silicon, the use of the anion exchanger according to the invention leads to the removal of nitrate in drinking water with surprisingly good effectiveness.

list of figures

• 1 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Tischwasserfilters.
• 2 ist eine aufgeschnittene Ansicht einer Kartusche mit einem Ionenaustauschermaterial.
• 3 zeigt eine Filterkerze.
• 4 zeigt schematisch die in den Tank einer Maschine zur Zubereitung von Getränken eingesetzte Kartusche.
• 5 zeigen anhand eines Graphs die Si-Anreicherung von Trinkwasser über die Lebensdauer einer Filterkartusche.

The subject matter of the invention will be described below with reference to schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings 1 to 5 are explained in more detail.

• 1 is a perspective view of a table water filter.
• 2 is a cutaway view of a cartridge with an ion exchange material.
• 3 shows a filter candle.
• 4 schematically shows the cartridge inserted into the tank of a machine for the preparation of beverages.
• 5 use a graph to show the Si enrichment of drinking water over the life of a filter cartridge.

Detailed description of the drawings

1 shows a perspective view of a table water filter 1 ,

It is a gravity-operated water treatment device, which is used in particular in the household.

The table water filter 1 includes a filter cartridge 2 that into a funnel 3 is inserted, which in turn is in the jug 4 is used.

Via the filler opening 6 can drink water into the funnel 3 be filled, which then the cartridge 2 happened and in the water collection room 5 collects.

2 shows a cut view of the in 1 shown cartridge 2 ,

The cartridge 2 includes a housing 7 which is at least one chamber 9 includes that with an ion exchange material 8th is filled.

With the ion exchange material 8th it is in particular a granulate which is designed as a mixed bed with a weakly acidic ion exchanger loaded with hydrogen ions and a strongly basic anion exchanger loaded with silicate.

The chamber can continue 9 still be filled with other water treatment media, in particular with activated carbon (not shown).

In operation runs through inlet openings 10 Water into the chamber 9 , passes through the ion exchange material and leaves via the outlet 11 the cartridge 2 ,

It goes without saying that in the flow direction before and / or after the ion exchange material 8th nor filters or nets to remove suspended matter and / or to retain the ion exchange material 8th can be provided (not shown).

3 shows an alternative embodiment of a device for the treatment of drinking water, which as a filter candle 12 is trained.

Such a filter candle 12 In contrast to the cartridge described above, it does not flow through due to gravity, but is connected to a drinking water pipe via a suitable adapter.

For this purpose, the filter candle has a head 14 with a thread 13 ,

The head 14 includes inlet and outlet. About the thread 13 can the filter candle 12 be screwed in easily. The basic structure of such filter cartridges is known to the person skilled in the art.

4 shows the tank schematically 15 a machine for preparing beverages, in particular an automatic machine for preparing coffee.

The Tank 15 includes an intake manifold 16 , via which water is fed to the machine via a pump.

In the intake manifold 16 a filter cartridge is inserted 17 which with an ion exchange material 8th is filled, which is partially loaded with hydrogen and partially with silicate in accordance with the above-described embodiments.

Referring to the graph according to 5 the enrichment of drinking water with silicon will be explained in more detail.

For this series of measurements, 50 ml of a strongly basic polystyrene-based Anion exchange granules with increased nitrate selectivity converted from the chloride form to the silicate form.

For this purpose, about 200 ml of a sodium silicate solution with 1.5 mol / l SiO _{2 were} used, which was prepared from dilute water glass.

The pH of the sodium silicate solution used is preferably above 9, particularly preferably above 10.5.

The anion exchanger preferably takes up between 0.3 and 0.8, particularly preferably between 0.5 and 0.7 mol, per liter of ion exchange material.

The ion exchange material was then rinsed with demineralized water and used for a series of measurements in which silicon-free water with a total hardness of 26 ° dH and a carbonate hardness of 17 ° dH was used. The silicon content was determined in the eluate.

The graph is on the x -Axis the amount of filtered water and on the y -Axis the silicon content of the eluate is plotted.

It can be seen that after the establishment of an equilibrium reaction, silicon release of more than 10 mg / l is achieved in the initial phase.

It is then surprising that the operation of the ion exchanger forms a plateau in which the silicon release is between 4 and 6 mg / l until the end of the life of the ion exchanger.

When added to a weakly acidic ion exchange material, the granulate shown here can be used to enrich the water with silicon over the entire life of the filter cartridge and to remove nitrates at the same time.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Water filter

2

cartridge

3

funnel

4

pot

5

Water collection chamber

6

fill opening

7

casing

8th

ion exchange

9

chamber

10

inlet opening

11

outlet

12

filter cartridge

13

thread

14

head

15

tank

16

intake

17

filter cartridge

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Non-patent literature cited

• DIN 54402: 2009-04 [0017]
• DIN 54403: 2009-04 [0017]

Claims (15)

Cartridge for the treatment of drinking water, comprising an anion exchanger loaded with silicate and a cation exchanger. Cartridge according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cation exchanger is loaded with at least hydrogen, in particular at least 10%, preferably at least 30%, of its total capacity. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anion exchanger loaded with silicate is loaded with at least 10%, preferably at least 30%, and particularly preferably at least 90% of its total capacity with silicate. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that anion exchangers and cation exchangers are present in a volume ratio of 1:10 to 10: 1, preferably 1: 3 to 3: 1. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anion exchanger loaded with silicate is designed as a strongly basic anion exchanger. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anion exchanger loaded with silicate has a higher selectivity for nitrate than for sulfate. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anion exchanger loaded with silicate is designed as a polystyrene-based ion exchanger, in particular with a quaternary amine as a functional group, and / or characterized in that the cation exchanger is designed as a weakly acidic cation exchange resin. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cation exchanger is loaded with magnesium, sodium, lithium, zinc and / or potassium, preferably to at least 5% of its total capacity. Cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge is designed as a disposable cartridge for a table water filter, an under-table water filter or a machine for preparing drinks, and / or that the cartridges are 20 to 10000 ml, preferably 80 to 200 ml , Contains ion exchange material. Cartridge for a table water filter, a machine for preparing beverages or an under-table water filter, in particular a cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an anion exchanger loaded with silicate. Table water filter, machine for the preparation of beverages or under table water filter, comprising a cartridge according to one of the preceding claims. Process for the treatment of drinking water, in particular using a cartridge according to one of the preceding claims and in particular for the production of a drink, the drinking water to be treated being passed over an anion exchanger loaded with silicate and being enriched with silicon in the process. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that silicate is replaced by nitrate. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking water to be treated is enriched with 1-50 mg / l silicon, preferably with 3-10 mg / l silicon, and / or characterized in that the drinking water to be treated is softened with a cation exchanger , and / or characterized in that a strongly basic anion exchanger with a higher selectivity towards nitrate than towards sulfate is used as the anion exchanger. Process for producing an ion exchange material for the enrichment of drinking water with silicon, an anion exchanger being converted into the silicate form by a basic silicate solution, in particular by a sodium silicate solution.

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