What is the difference between softening water and purifying water? 【Basic Knowledge】

Does water made with a softener contain sodium? The difference between the mechanisms of softening and purifying water.

■What is a softener? A softener is a device that converts hard water into soft water by passing it through an ion exchange resin, which removes hardness components such as calcium and magnesium. These hardness components can crystallize and form scale, leading to reduced heat transfer efficiency in boilers and clogging in pipes. ■What is the mechanism of ion exchange resin? Ion exchange resin is a type of resin that performs ion exchange by capturing ions present in water and releasing the ions it originally holds in exchange. ■Are soft water and pure water the same? Generally, softening using only cation exchange resin replaces calcium and magnesium with sodium, so sodium itself remains in the water. In contrast, by combining cation exchange resin with anion exchange resin, it is possible to produce purer water by removing both cations like calcium and magnesium and anions like chlorine and carbonate found in tap water. ■Summary While softening and purification are similar, their mechanisms are different. It is important to select the right device according to your needs. Please feel free to consult us first.

Water Treatment ChemicalsboilerWater purifiers/water softeners