Release of Nanoparticles from Ion Exchange Resins and Their Detection

Abstract

Nanoparticles released from commercial ion exchange resins were analyzed by laser-induced breakdown detection (LIBD). It was shown that virgin resins release a considerable amount of nanoparticles which may harm sensitive production lines, if the resins are used without proper pretreatment. Particle release is reduced to below 1 ppb after regeneration and rinsing of the resins. However, the nanoparticle concentration can still be detected quantitatively by LIBD.

Keywords:

• Ion exchange resin
• laser-induced breakdown detection
• LIBD
• particle counting
• nanoparticles
• ultrapure water

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We thank the LLP-Erasmus program for the support of O. Arar in performing this research work at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). We are also deeply thankful to Prof. Wolfgang Höll, who gave valuable input to this work and who unfortunately died much too early in May 2010.