In this paper two models for the prediction of multicomponent ion exchange equilibria were
compared: one, a heterogeneous model, based on the mass action law in which ideal behavior
for both the solution and the solid phase and the heterogeneity of ion exchange sites has been
assumed, and the other a homogeneous model, based on the same mass action law in which
nonideal behavior for both the solution and the solid phase has been taken into account.
Considering counterions with different valences, the optimum value of the fraction of functional
groups was obtained from binary systems data. It was shown that the energy distribution was
practically symmetric. Likewise, a procedure for decreasing the number of adjustable parameters, based on the determination of the minimum linearly independent equilibria considering
each equilibrium as a heterogeneous reaction, was developed. The adjustable parameters
(namely, the equilibrium constants forced to satisfy the triangle rule) were used in the prediction
of the ternary equilibrium data. In all cases the prediction of the heterogeneous model was in
good agreement with experimental data. However, although the homogeneous model was
somewhat superior to the heterogeneous model in the prediction of ternary systems, the
comparison between both models did not allow us to distinguish statistically between them.