Utilization of ion exchange in food processing:

The utilization of ion exchange in food processing has been quite successful in both beverage and canning industries. In the bottling of carbonated beverages, the presence of carbonate and bicarbonate in water supplies has to be removed. They neutralize the citric and phosphoric acids added to carbonated beverages. The treatment of raw wines and whiskeys with ion exchange resins is of considerable interest. The anion exchange resins remove aldehyde and catalyze several esterification reactions thereby improving the taste and bouquet of the product.

Ion exchange resins have been scanned as therapeutic agent or additives in host of medical disorders or ailments. A purified highly subdivided weak base anion exchanger has been quite successfully used as antacid in peptic ulcer therapy and other gastrointestinal disorders. The use of cation exchangers as means of removing sodium from the body in the treatment of edemas and hypertension has been very encouraging.

Ion exchange finds a very useful application in agricultural science in the form of formulations for plant nutrients. Ion exchange formulations containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in addition to the minor nutrients that may be deficient have been found useful in fortifying a wide variety of potting soils. Such a fortified soil may retain a large supply of nutrient without injury to plant. The need for frequent fertilization is eliminated; nutrition is continuous and self-regulatory.

Before we conclude this section, it may be mentioned that preceding text simply acts as pointer to the great scope of ion exchangers in different areas of science and technology.