water softening question

sprsso · science forum beginner Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 5

Hey,
I hope I'm in the right place.
I have a dilemna concerning water hardness testing. I work for a
company that supplies espresso equipment to several large restaurant
chains nationally.
Recently, during a normal repair visit, a technician measured water
exiting the softener at 16gpg. On a visit 2 days later, both the
president of my company and a representative from Ecolab recorded 0gpg.
It is unlikely that the softening cartridge could have been changed
without the knowledge of management. Tests were conducted with Hach
hardness test kits.
A discussion between the pres. and the company that produces our
filters (not the one tested) made mention of false readings occuring as
the ion exchange resin approached saturation with calcium and
magnesium, quality of the resin, and an effect called "dumping". I am
not familiar with these points, but as our resident espresso expert, it
has fallen upon me to find the answers to the following questions:
Can false readings occur at high levels of concentration of minerals
within the softening resin?
How much does the quality of the softening resin impact the
effectiveness of the softener, and could it occlude readings?
Anyone familiar with the term dumping?
If I am not asking in the right place, or the questions are too
amateurish for consideration, I apologize.
If there is someplace where these questions would be more appropriate,
I would appreciate being pointed to it, or any refence locations that
might help.
Thanks in advance....al

Uncle Al · science forum Guru Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 1226

sprsso wrote:

sprsso · science forum beginner Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 5

f*** you, b***h. At one point years ago you were helpful and I gave you
credit as providing valuable info that actually had some insight. Now
you are apparently relegated to ascerbic, nonviable a*****le with
nothing valid to offer. I'll bet you thought that was funny.
I welcome responses from people who actually know what they're talking
about, not those that disguise their ignorance as what they perceive to
be comedy. Don't waste my bandwidth with your lame attempt to be
humorous.And stop doing that. You'll go blind....mom

ian.kirker@gmail.com · science forum beginner Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 4

Before I say anything, I should mention that I'm no expert in water
softeners.

However, as I understand it, water softener resin is, essentially, an
ion exchange resin, that exchanges calcium or magnesium for sodium or
hydrogen ions, and carbonate or other negatively charged ions for
chloride or hydroxide, depending on the type (brine regenerated or
acid/alkali regenerated).

Now, different ions will have different affinities for the particular
resin, and so, over time, the more strongly bonding one will become
predominant as it may displace more weakly bonding ions. If most of the
sites are occupied with bound calcium and magnesium ions, then an input
of more ions may result in a mass displacement of the less favoured ion
(calcium, I think), and so a higher concentration of that ion than you
started with. This is what I have been led to understand is meant by
"dumping".

I don't know how the quality of the resin affects this, unfortunately.

(Hope this helps a little.)

Martin Brown · science forum addict Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 82

sprsso wrote:

Ernie · science forum beginner Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 16

"sprsso" <acritzer@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1116360370.292963.249450@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...

sprsso · science forum beginner Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 5

Thank you...al

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