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Abstract

The invention provides a method of reducing the sodium content of a water containing dissolved sodium ions, particularly a water with a sodium ion content of at least 100 ppm. Examples of such waters are effluents such as acid mine drainage and river waters. The method includes the steps of:

(i) removing sodium, calcium and magnesium ions from the water by contacting the water with a cation exchange resin/s to capture sodium, calcium and magnesium ions thereon,(ii) treating the cation exchange resin/s of step (i) with nitric acid to produce an eluant containing sodium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions nitrate ions and nitric acid,(iii) adding a carbonate to the eluant to precipitate the calcium and magnesium ions as calcium and magnesium carbonates;(iv) separating the precipitated carbonates from the eluant; and(v) treating the eluant from step (iv) to obtain a sodium and/or potassium nitrate product.

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First Claim