Non-linear kinetics of multicomponent ion exchange. Macroscopic model and non-monotone curves

Abstract

In difference from usual binary ion exchange the description of multicomponent ion exchange
kinetics requires to give not only diffusivities, but an electric field to balance mutual fluxes of counter-ions.
Due to the field some components can saturate an ion-exchanger greater then under equilibrium. This
theoretically predicted effect is observed practically as disturbance of the kinetic curve monotony of the
correspondent component. In the present paper a simple theoretical approach, named ‘macroscopic model’, is
developed; experiments for ternary ion exchange are described, and calculation and experimental results are
compared.