What is the main purpose of ion exchange in wastewater treatment?

The main purpose of ion exchange in wastewater treatment is to recover metallic ions. This process involves exchanging undesirable ions in the wastewater with more desirable ions from a resin or another solid material. Ion exchange is especially useful for removing heavy metals and other cations from wastewater. As the undesirable metallic ions bind to the resin, they can then be removed from the wastewater, which effectively cleans the water and prevents harmful substances from entering the environment. This recovery process not only helps in treating wastewater but can also lead to the recycling and reusing of valuable metals, further contributing to resource conservation and sustainability in wastewater management.

Other choices, while related to different aspects of water treatment, do not describe the primary function of ion exchange. Neutralizing acids or increasing pH are typically addressed by chemical processes, while reducing water temperature is associated with cooling processes rather than ion exchange mechanisms.