ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Recarbonization of drinking water in fluidized-bed reactor

Ján Derco, Anna Luptáková, Jozef Dudáš, and Martin Vrabeľ

Institute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

E-mail: jan.derco@stuba.sk

Abstract: Investigation of drinking-water recarbonization process is the main aim of this work. Experiments aimed at increasing of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in water were carried out in laboratory scale fluidized-bed reactor. This technique offers potential for increasing of reaction surface area and overall reaction rate, and represents a new approach in drinking-water industry. Measurements of hydraulic characteristics of the fluidized bed were performed. The results of comparison of two different recarbonization agents, dolomite and half-calcined dolomite, show that half-calcined dolomite is more efficient for increasing concentration of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ from value below the recommended limit to 3.4 mmol L⁻¹. Effect of carbon dioxide on enrichment of water by calcium and magnesium was also investigated and positive effect was observed. Concentration of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ with CO₂ present was increased by factor 2.6 in comparison without addition of CO₂ to the system at the same conditions. The use of fluidized-bed reactor resulted in significantly higher remineralization rate in comparison with static filtration column.

Keywords: Drinking water; Fluidised bed reactor; Half-calcined dolomite; Mineral deficiency; Recarbonization; Water quality improvement

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-017-0173-0

Chemical Papers 71 (9) 1771–1779 (2017)