title: Desalination feasibility study of an industrial NaCl stream by bipolar membrane electrodialysis.
abstract: The industrial implementation of alternative technologies in the processing of saline effluent streams is a topic of growing importance. In this technical feasibility study, the desalination of an industrial saline stream containing about 75 g L(-1) NaCl contaminated with some organic matter using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (EDBM) was investigated on lab-scale. Bipolar membranes of two different manufacturers (PCA - PolymerChemie Altmeier GmbH and FuMA-Tech GmbH) were tested and compared in terms of electrical resistance, current efficiency and purity of the produced acid and base stream. In both cases, almost complete desalination (>99%) was achieved and simultaneously HCl and NaOH were produced with a concentration between 1.5 and 2 M with a relatively good purity. The Fumasep bipolar membranes scored slightly better for electrical resistance and current efficiency. On the other hand, slightly higher current densities were achieved with PCA bipolar membranes. Simultaneously, some information was obtained on the transport behavior of the organic matter present in the saline stream. It was observed that a transport competition occurred between the organic matter and the accompanying chlorides. From this lab-scale study it was concluded that EDBM is a promising and attractive technology in the area of saline effluent reclamation and reuse.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Microbial and Bio-Chemical Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, KU Leuven - Kulab, Zeedijk 101, B-8400 Oostende, Belgium. Electronic address: karel.ghyselbrecht@kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghyselbrecht
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Mestrado em Engenharia Química, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, ProcESS - Process Engineering for Sustainable Systems, KU Leuven, W. de Croylaan 46, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van der Bruggen
authors.affiliation: Umicore NV, Watertorenstraat 33, B-2250 Olen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boussu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Microbial and Bio-Chemical Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, KU Leuven - Kulab, Zeedijk 101, B-8400 Oostende, Belgium; Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Cluster for Bio-engineering Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Boudewijn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meesschaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, ProcESS - Process Engineering for Sustainable Systems, KU Leuven, W. de Croylaan 46, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Chemical Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, KU Leuven - KAHO St.-Lieven, Gebroeders De Smetstraat 1, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinoy
mesh_terms: D003035:Cobalt; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003035:Cobalt; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid
keywords: Bipolar membrane electrodialysis; Desalination; Effluent reclamation; Feasibility; Organic matter