Water defined by the following analysis is to be softened

by excess lime treatment. Assume that the practical limit of

hardness removal for CaCO3 is 30 mg/l, and that of
Mg(OH)2 is 10 mg/l CaCO3.
CO2 = 8.8 mg/l
Ca2+ = 40.0 mg/l
Mg2+ = 14.7 mg/l
Na+ = 13.7 mg/l
Alk (HCO3-) = 135 mg/l as CaCO3
SO4= = 29.0 mg/l
Cl- = 17.8 mg/l

Component mg/L
CO2
Ca2+
Mg2+
Na+
Alk
SO4=
Cl-

8.8
40
14.7
13.7
135
29
17.8

Equivalent meq/l
weight
22
0.40
20
2.00
12.2
1.20
23
0.60
50
2.70
48
0.60
35
0.51

Sketch a meq/l bar graph and list the hypothetical

combinations of chemical compounds in solution
Component meq/l
total meq/l
CO2
-0.40
CO2
Ca
2.00
2.00 HCO3
Mg
1.20
3.20 SO4=
Na
0.60
3.80 Cl-

meq/l
0.40
2.70
0.60
0.51

Hypothetical combinations of chemical compounds in

solution are Ca(HCO3)2, MgSO4, Na2SO4, and NaCl
Calcium hardness = 2.00 x 50 = 100 mg/l as CaCO3
Magnesium hardness = 1.21 x 50 = 60 mg/l

Calculate the softening chemicals rquired expressing lime

dosage as CaO and soda ash as Na2CO3
Component meq/l
CO2
Ca(HCO3)2
Mg(HCO3)2
MgSO4

Lime
meq/l
0.4
2
0.7
0.50

0.40
2.00
1.40
0.50
4.30

Soda ash
meq/l
0
0
0
0.50
0.50

Required lime dosage equals the amount needed for the

softening reactions plus 35 mg/l CaO excess lime to
precipitate the magnesium.

total meq/l
0.40
2.70
3.30
3.81

Required lime dosage equals the amount needed for the

softening reactions plus 35 mg/l CaO excess lime to
precipitate the magnesium.
Dosage = 4.31 x 28 + 35 = 156 mg/l CaO
Dosage of soda ash = 0.51 x 53 = 27 mg/l Na2CO3

Draw a bar graph for the softened water before and after
recarbonation. Assume that one half the alkalinity in the
softened wate is the bicarbonate form.
Before
Component meq/l
total meq/l
CO2
-0.40
0.00
Ca
2.00
2.00 HCO3
Mg
1.20
3.20 SO4=
Na
0.60
3.80 Cl-

meq/l

total meq/l
Na

2.70
0.60
0.51

2.70
3.30
3.81

-0.40

-0.80
-0.40
0.00
0.40
-1.00
-0.60
-0.20
0.20
0.6

After
Component meq/l
total meq/l
Ca
-1.25
-1.25 OHCa
0.60
0.60 OHMg
0.20
0.80 CO3=
Na
1.10
1.90 SO4=
Cl-

meq/l
total meq/l
-1.25
0.20
0.20
0.60
0.80
0.60
1.40
0.51
1.91

Recarbonation
Component meq/l

meq/l

1.25
0.6
0.2
1.10

-0.80
-0.40
0.00
0.40
-1.00
-0.60
-0.20
0.20
0.6

Na

total meq/l

total meq/l
-1.25

Ca
Mg
Na

0.60
0.20
1.10

0.60 HCO30.80 CO3=

1.90 SO4=
Cl-

0.20
0.60
0.60
0.51

0.20
0.80
1.40
1.91

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20
Cl-

-1.25

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

Cl-

-1.00

Split Treatment with 40% of flow by-passed.

Compute the chemicals required and hardness of finished water

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

Lime Dosage
Soda ash

0.6 x 156 =
0.6 x 27 =

93.6 mg/L CaO

16.2 mg/l Na2CO3

See initial raw bar graph and treated water bar graph
Hydroxide
Excess lime
From treated water
In treated water (0,6)

1.25
0.20
1.45
0.87

In by-passed water
CO2
By passed water CCH

40%
40%

meq/L
meq/L
meq/L
meq/L

0.40 meq/L =
2.00 meq/L =

0.16 meq/L
0.80 meq/L

Carbon dioxide eliminated by excess lime

excess hydroxide in treated water
0.87 meq/L
carbon dioxide in by-passed water
0.16 meq/L
after Carbon dioxide eliminated --> [OH-] =
0.71 meq/L
Balance hydroxide ion reacts with CH
By passed water CCH
[OH-]
Final CCH
Ca Hardness
Limit conc of removal
total
as CaCO3 ( x 50)
Mg Hardness
Initial water
Treated water
Mg hardness
As CaCO3
Total Hardness

40%
60%

0.80 meq/L
0.71 meq/L
0.09 meq/L
0.6 meq/L
0.69 meq/L
34.5 mg/L CaCO3

1.21 meq/L
0.2 meq/L

0.484
0.12
0.60
30.2

meq/L
meq/L
meq/L
mg/L CaCO3

64.7 mg/L CaCO3

Na

Mg

-0.40

Ca

CO2

2.00

1.20

.80
-0.40
0.00
0.40
0.80
1.20
1.60
2.00
2.40
2.80
3.20
3.60
4.00
-0.60
-0.20
0.20
0.60
1.00
1.40
1.80
2.20
2.60
3.00
3.40
3.80
4.20
Cl-

SO4=

HCO3

2.70

0.60

0.51

.80
-0.40
0.00
0.40
0.80
1.20
1.60
2.00
2.40
2.80
3.20
3.60
4.00
-0.60
-0.20
0.20
0.60
1.00
1.40
1.80
2.20
2.60
3.00
3.40
3.80
4.20

Na

Mg

-1.25

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

0.60

-0.20

0.00

Cl-

-0.60

-0.40

0.20

-0.20

0.00

0.60

CO3=

0.20

0.20

0.40

0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

Cl-

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

OH-

0.20

0.20

1.00

Ca

0.20

0.40

SO4=

0.20

-0.80

1.00

0.80

Mg

0.60

-0.60

0.80
OH-

0.60

Na

-0.80

Ca

0.20

0.40

SO4=

-1.25

-0.80

Ca

0.60

0.80

CO3=

0.60

1.00

1.20

HCO3-

0.60

0.40

1.10

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

From water analysis :

Parameter
TDS
Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium
Potassium
Bicarbonate
Sulfate
Chloride
pH

Ca
Mg
Na
K
HCO3
SO4
Cl

Concentration
mg/l
373
70
22
14
2
187
118
17
7.5

Construct an equivalent table for the chemical species of interest

Parameter

mole
wt

Ca
Mg
Na
K
HCO3
SO4
Cl

no.eq/mole

Concentration
mmole/l
meq/l

mg/l
40
24.3
23
29.1
61
96.1
35.3

2
2
1
1
1
2
1

70
22
14
2
187
118
17

1.75
0.91
0.61
0.07
3.07
1.23
0.48

3.50
1.81
0.61
0.07
3.07
2.46
0.48

Construct an equivalent diagram for the cationic and anionic chemical species
Cations
Ca
Mg
Na
K

3.50
1.81
0.61
0.07

3.50 HCO3
5.31 SO4
5.92 Cl
5.99

Anions
3.07
2.46
0.48

3.07
5.52
6.00

Determine the types of hardness present in the water

Type of Hardness
Calcium carbonate
Magnesium carbonate
Calcium noncarbonate
Magnesium noncarbonate

Concentration
eq/l
3.07
0
0.43
1.81

Based on the chemical requirement indicated by the softening reactions

compute the lime and soda ash dose
Constituent

amount to be

Ca(OH)2

Na2CO3

to be removed

removed
meq/l

Calcium carbonate hardness

Magnesium carbonate hardness
Calcium noncarbonate hardness
Magnesium noncarbonate hardness

required
meq/l

3.07
0.00
0.43
1.81

1
2
0
1

Total chemical requirement

3.07
0.00
0.00
1.81

required
meq/l
0
0
1
1

4.88

Convert the lime and soda ash requirement int mg/l of water treated
Ca(OH)2 =

meq/l x mmol/meq x mg/mmole

=
=

4.88
x
180 mg/L

0.5

74

2.25
x
119 mg/L

0.5

106

Na2CO3 =

To accelerate the rate of softening reactions, a 5 to 10% excess of the stoichiometric

lime and soda ash is often added.
Regarding that calculations have been based on pure chemical compounds,
to obtain the actual chemical dose, the calculated requirement should be devided by
the fractional purity of chemical used.
Lime
Soda ash

60-70%
at least 98%
dose

Ca(OH)2 =
Na2CO3 =

excess
180
119

excess
purity
dose
dose
10%
198
65%
305
10%
131
98%
134

0
0
0.43
1.81
2.25

emical species

Constituent

amount to be

NaOH

Na2CO3

to be removed

CCH
MCH
CNH
MNH

removed
meq/l
3.07
0.00
0.43
1.81

required
meq/l
1
2
0
1

Total caustic soda requirement

Total soda ash requirement
Soda ash produced
Net soda ash requirement

Total caustic soda requirement

Excess caustic soda requirement

3.07
0.00
0.00
1.81

required
meq/l
0
0
1
0

0
0
0.43
0.00

4.88
0.43
2.63

4.88 x 40 =

195 mg/l
215 mg/l

Advantages
in many cases only one chemical feed system is required
it is easier to handle and feed the lime
it does not deteriorate in the storage
less sludge produced
Choice of chemicals :
cost of equipment for chemical feed
delivery cost
cost of sludge handling and disposal

1
2
0
0

Sludge

Na2CO3

Lime soda softening

Caustic soda softening

produced
meq/l
3.07
0
0
0

3.07

CaCO3 formed
meq/L
2
1
0
1

CaCO3 formed
meq/L
6.13
0.00
0.00
1.81

Total
7.94
sludge
mg/l treated wate (0,5 * 100)
397

1
1

3.07
0.00

3.07

153