LANXESS products are used all over the world to treat drinking water. A particularly important role is played by ion exchange resins and arsenic adsorbers under the product names Lewatit® and Bayoxide®. These products remove pollutants from water and other liquids.

Arsenic Adsorber

Arsenic pollution is one of the most dangerous forms of drinking water contamination. Some very high concentrations of arsenic occur in the groundwater in many regions of the United States, South America and Asia. Excessive arsenic levels are often found in Europe, too, for example in the U.K. LANXESS has developed an iron oxide called Bayoxide® E33 designed specifically for the removal of arsenic from drinking water and wastewater. The core of the system is a solid bed of iron oxide beads. The beads have finely structured surfaces that adsorb pollutants when contaminated water flows over them.

Ion Exchange Resins

Another water treatment process is ion exchange with Lewatit®, which is used to remove pollutants such as nickel, nitrate or certain hydrocarbons from drinking water. During the ion exchange process, contaminated water flows through a container filled with ion exchange resin. This filters the contaminants, holding onto the ions of the pollutants and replacing them with harmless ions. Industrial applications include treatment of water for industrial processes in power plants. The microchip and pharmaceutical industries require water in an extremely pure form. Lewatit® is used in these industries to produce ultra-pure water, which is a vital manufacturing resource.

Biodegradable detergent

Dispersing, in other words agents that make the blending of two substances, which are not actually mixable, and complexing agents that bind undesirable metal ions are virtually everywhere we look in our daily lives. Wherever water is used – in homes, trade and industry – additives such as these are required to enable water to be used more efficiently. With offerings such as its Baypure product group, LANXESS provides innovative solutions for softening water in washing machines and dishwashers. Baypure envelops the calcium and magnesium ions dissolved in water, which can cause limescale deposits, and keeps them suspended. Baypure® DS 100 prevents limescale deposits and even softens existing scale. Applications include dissolving stubborn furring in drainage pipes, assisting oil extraction and preventing grayness in detergents. Baypure boasts excellent green credentials because it is biodegradable. It is also a commercial success thanks to its many different applications.