Type | Base | Functional group | Matrix |
Strongly Acidic Cation Exchange Resin | Styrenic | Sulfonic acid | Gel / Porous / Highly porous |
Weakly Acidic Cation Exchange Resin | Acrylic Methacrylic | Acrylic acid Methacrylic acid | Gel / Porous / Highly porous |
Strongly Basic Anion Exchange Resin | Styrenic | Quaternary ammonium (Type I and Type II) | Gel / Porous / Highly porous |
Weakly Basic Anion Exchange Resin | Styrenic Acrylic | Tertiary amine Polyamine | Porous / Highly porous |
Chelating Resin | - | Special lignads | Highly porous |
GEL type ion exchange resins are most commonly used and have homogeneous matrix structure inside the beads. This type of matrix gives so-called micropores that are formed by the polymeric networks. Water and solute speices difuse into and out from the bead through the micropores.
Porous resins have rather large pores as well as micropores. The large pores (macropores) give improved difusion of solutes inside beads.
Highly Porous resins have more enhanced macroporosity. Resins of this type can be used for processing of large molecules or can be used in non-aqueous media.
Typical applications of ion exchange resins are as follows: