Flow patterns and mass transfer rates in fluidized bed ion exchange equipment

The axial mixing of ion exchange resin and liquid in fluidized beds is modelled by a series of well‐mixed cells for the resin and an equal or larger number of mixed cells for the liquid. Concentration breakthrough curves are calculated using this mixing model, assuming finite mass transfer kinetics and irreversible equilibrium. The model is used to describe mixing patterns and kinetics in static fluidized beds (no resin flow); the information so obtained can be used to design continuous and periodic flow counter‐current fluidized bed ion exchange systems.