Effect of surface hydrophobization on chronopotentiometric behavior of an AMX anion-exchange membrane at overlimiting currents

Bilayer Heterogeneous Cation Exchange Membrane with Polyaniline Modified Homogeneous Layer: Preparation and Electrotransport Properties

A bilayer membrane based on a heterogenous cation exchange membrane with a homogeneous cation exchange layer and a polyaniline on its surface is prepared. The intercalation of polyaniline into the membrane with a homogeneous cation exchange layer is performed by oxidative polymerization of aniline. The influence of the homogeneous cation exchange layer and the polyaniline on the structure, conductivity, diffusion permeability, selectivity, and current-voltage curve of the heterogeneous cation exchange membrane is established. Membrane properties are studied in the HCl, NaCl, and CaCl2 solutions. The homogeneous cation exchange layer has a negligible effect on the transport properties of the initial heterogeneous membrane. The polyaniline synthesis leads to a decrease in the macropore volume in the membrane structure, conductivity, and diffusion permeability. The counterion transport number in the bilayer membrane is significantly reduced in a solution of calcium chloride and practically does not change in sodium chloride and hydrochloric acid. In addition, the asymmetry of the diffusion permeability and shape of current-voltage curve depending on the orientation of the membrane surface to the flux of electrolyte or counterion are found.

Interplay between Forced Convection and Electroconvection during the Overlimiting Ion Transport through Anion-Exchange Membranes: A Fourier Transform Analysis of Membrane Voltage Drops

Electrodialysis (ED) applications have expanded in recent years and new modes of operation are being investigated. Operation at overlimiting currents involves the phenomenon of electroconvection, which is associated with the generation of vortices. These vortices accelerate the process of solution mixing, making it possible to increase the transport of ions across the membranes. In this work, frequency analysis is applied to investigate the interaction between different parameters on the development of electroconvection near anion-exchange membranes, which would provide a basis for the development of ED systems with favored electroconvection. Chronopotentiometric curves are registered and Fast Fourier Transform analysis is carried out to study the amplitude of the transmembrane voltage oscillations. Diverse behaviors are detected as a function of the level of forced convection and current density. The synergistic combination of forced convection and overlimiting currents leads to an increase in the signal amplitude, which is especially noticeable at frequencies around 0.1 Hz. Fast Fourier Transform analysis allows identifying, for a given system, the conditions that lead to a transition between stable and chaotic electroconvection modes.

Comparison of the Electrodialysis Performance in Tartrate Stabilization of a Red Wine Using Aliphatic and Aromatic Commercial and Modified Ion-Exchange Membranes

The application of electrodialysis for tartrate stabilization and reagent-free acidity correction of wine and juices is attracting increasing interest. New aliphatic membranes CJMC-3 and CJMA-3 and aromatic membranes CSE and ASE were tested to determine their suitability for use in these electrodialysis processes and to evaluate the fouling of these membranes by wine components for a short (6-8 h) operating time. Using IR spectroscopy, optical indication and measurement of surface contact angles, the chemical composition of the studied membranes, as well as some details about their fouling by wine components, was clarified. The current-voltage charsacteristics, conductivity and water-splitting capacity of the membranes before and after electrodialysis were analyzed. We found that in the case of cation-exchange membranes, complexes of anthocyanins with metal ions penetrate into the bulk (CJMC-3) or are localized on the surface (CSE), depending on the degree of crosslinking of the polymer matrix. Adsorption of wine components by the surface of anion-exchange membranes CJMA-3 and ASE causes an increase in water splitting. Despite fouling under identical conditions of electrodialysis, membrane pair CJMC-3 and CJMA-3 provided 18 ± 1 tartrate recovery with 31 · 10^-3 energy consumption, whereas CSE and ASE provided 20 ± 1% tartrate recovery with an energy consumption of 28 · 10^-3 Wh, in addition to reducing the conductivity of wine by 20 ± 1%. The casting of aliphatic polyelectrolyte films on the surface of aromatic membranes reduces fouling with a relatively small increase in energy consumption and approximately the same degree of tartrate recovery compared to pristine CSE and ASE.

Sessile Drop Method: Critical Analysis and Optimization for Measuring the Contact Angle of an Ion-Exchange Membrane Surface

The contact angle between a membrane surface and a waterdrop lying on its surface provides important information about the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the membrane. This method is well-developed for solid non-swelling materials. However, ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) are gel-like solids that swell in liquids. When an IEM is exposed to air, its degree of swelling changes rapidly, making it difficult to measure the contact angle. In this paper, we examine the known experience of measuring contact angles and suggest a simple equipment that allows the membrane to remain swollen during measurements. An optimized protocol makes it possible to obtain reliable and reproducible results. Measuring parameters such as drop size, water dosing speed and others are optimized. Contact angle measurements are shown for a large number of commercial membranes. These data are supplemented with values from other surface characteristics from optical and profilometric measurements.

Influence of Electroconvection on Chronopotentiograms of an Anion-Exchange Membrane in Solutions of Weak Polybasic Acid Salts

Visualization of electroconvective (EC) vortices at the undulated surface of an AMX anion-exchange membrane (Astom, Osaka, Japan) was carried out in parallel with the measurement of chronopotentiograms. Weak polybasic acid salts, including 0.02 M solutions of tartaric (NaHT), phosphoric (NaH₂PO₄), and citric (NaH₂Cit) acids salts, and NaCl were investigated. It was shown that, for a given current density normalized to the theoretical limiting current calculated by the Leveque equation (i/i_lim^theor), EC vortex zone thickness, d_EC, decreases in the order NaCl > NaHT > NaH₂PO₄ > NaH₂Cit. This order is inverse to the increase in the intensity of proton generation in the membrane systems under study. The higher the intensity of proton generation, the lower the electroconvection. This is due to the fact that protons released into the depleted solution reduce the space charge density, which is the driver of EC. In all studied systems, a region in chronopotentiograms between the rapid growth of the potential drop and the attainment of its stationary values corresponds to the appearance of EC vortex clusters. The amplitude of the potential drop oscillations in the chronopotentiograms is proportional to the size of the observed vortex clusters.

A Review on Ion-Exchange Membranes Fouling during Electrodialysis Process in Food Industry, Part 2: Influence on Transport Properties and Electrochemical Characteristics, Cleaning and Its Consequences

Ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) are increasingly used in dialysis and electrodialysis processes for the extraction, fractionation and concentration of valuable components, as well as reagent-free control of liquid media pH in the food industry. Fouling of IEMs is specific compared to that observed in the case of reverse or direct osmosis, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and other membrane processes. This specificity is determined by the high concentration of fixed groups in IEMs, as well as by the phenomena inherent only in electromembrane processes, i.e., induced by an electric field. This review analyzes modern scientific publications on the effect of foulants (mainly typical for the dairy, wine and fruit juice industries) on the structural, transport, mass transfer, and electrochemical characteristics of cation-exchange and anion-exchange membranes. The relationship between the nature of the foulant and the structure, physicochemical, transport properties and behavior of ion-exchange membranes in an electric field is analyzed using experimental data (ion exchange capacity, water content, conductivity, diffusion permeability, limiting current density, water splitting, electroconvection, etc.) and modern mathematical models. The implications of traditional chemical cleaning are taken into account in this analysis and modern non-destructive membrane cleaning methods are discussed. Finally, challenges for the near future were identified.

Investigation of ion-exchange membranes by means of chronopotentiometry: A comprehensive review on this highly informative and multipurpose technique

Electrodialysis is mostly used for drinking water production but it has gained applicability in different new fields in recent decades. Membrane characteristics and ion transport properties strongly influence the efficiency of electrodialysis and must be evaluated to avoid an intense energy consumption and ensure long membrane times of usage. To this aim, conducting studies on ion transport across membranes is essential. Several dynamic characterization methods can be employed, among which, chronopotentiometry has shown special relevance because it allows a direct access to the contribution of the potential in different states of the membrane/solution system. The present paper provides a critical review on the use of chronopotentiometry to determine the main membrane transport properties and to evaluate mass transfer phenomena. Properties, such as limiting current density, electrical resistances, plateau length, transport number of counter-ions in the membrane, transition times, and apparent fraction of membrane conductive area have been intensively discussed in the literature and are presented in this review. Some of the phenomena evaluated using this technique are concentration polarization, gravitational convection, electroconvection, water dissociation, and fouling/scaling, all of them also shown herein. Mathematical and experimental studies were considered. New trends in chronopotentiometric studies should include ion-exchange membranes that have been recently developed (presenting anti-fouling, anti-microbial, and monovalent-selective properties) and a deeper discussion on the behaviour of complex solutions that have been often treated by electrodialysis, such as municipal wastewaters. New mathematical models, especially 3D ones, are also expected to be developed in the coming years.

Electrodialytic Processes: Market Overview, Membrane Phenomena, Recent Developments and Sustainable Strategies

In the context of preserving and improving human health, electrodialytic processes are very promising perspectives. Indeed, they allow the treatment of water, preservation of food products, production of bioactive compounds, extraction of organic acids, and recovery of energy from natural and wastewaters without major environmental impact. Hence, the aim of the present review is to give a global portrait of the most recent developments in electrodialytic membrane phenomena and their uses in sustainable strategies. It has appeared that new knowledge on pulsed electric fields, electroconvective vortices, overlimiting conditions and reversal modes as well as recent demonstrations of their applications are currently boosting the interest for electrodialytic processes. However, the hurdles are still high when dealing with scale-ups and real-life conditions. Furthermore, looking at the recent research trends, potable water and wastewater treatment as well as the production of value-added bioactive products in a circular economy will probably be the main applications to be developed and improved. All these processes, taking into account their principles and specificities, can be used for specific eco-efficient applications. However, to prove the sustainability of such process strategies, more life cycle assessments will be necessary to convince people of the merits of coupling these technologies.

The Development of Electroconvection at the Surface of a Heterogeneous Cation-Exchange Membrane Modified with Perfluorosulfonic Acid Polymer Film Containing Titanium Oxide

One way to enhance mass transfer and reduce fouling in wastewater electrodialysis is stimulation of electroconvective mixing of the solution adjoining membranes by modifying their surfaces. Several samples were prepared by casting the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer film doped with TiO₂ nanoparticles onto the surface of the heterogeneous cation-exchange membrane MK-40. It is found that changes in surface characteristics conditioned by such modification lead to an increase in the limiting current density due to the stimulation of electroconvection, which develops according to the mechanism of electroosmosis of the first kind. The greatest increase in the current compared to the pristine membrane can be obtained by modification with the film being 20 μm thick and containing 3 wt% of TiO₂. The sample containing 6 wt% of TiO₂ provides higher mass transfer in overlimiting current modes due to the development of nonequilibrium electroconvection. A 1.5-fold increase in the thickness of the modifying film reduces the positive effect of introducing TiO₂ nanoparticles due to (1) partial shielding of the nanoparticles on the surface of the modified membrane; (2) a decrease in the tangential component of the electric force, which affects the development of electroconvection.

Treatment of Cyanide-Free Wastewater from Brass Electrodeposition with EDTA by Electrodialysis: Evaluation of Underlimiting and Overlimiting Operations

Growing environmental concerns have led to the development of cleaner processes, such as the substitution of cyanide in electroplating industries and changes in the treatment of wastewaters. Hence, we evaluated the treatment of cyanide-free wastewater from the brass electroplating industry with EDTA as a complexing agent by electrodialysis, aimed at recovering water and concentrated solutions for reuse. The electrodialysis tests were performed in underlimiting and overlimiting conditions. The results suggested that intense water dissociation occurred at the cathodic side of the commercial anion-exchange membrane (HDX) during the overlimiting test. Consequently, the pH reduction at this membrane may have led to the reaction of protons with complexes of EDTA-metals and insoluble species. This allowed the migration of free Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ to the cation-exchange membrane as a result of the intense electric field and electroconvection. These overlimiting phenomena accounted for the improvement of the percent extraction and percent concentration, since in the electrodialysis stack employed herein, the concentrate compartments of cationic and anionic species were connected to the same reservoir. Chronopotentiometric studies showed that electroconvective vortices minimized fouling/scaling at both membranes. The electrodialysis in the overlimiting condition seemed to be more advantageous due to water dissociation and electroconvection.

Effect of Surface Inhomogeneity of Ion-Exchange Membranes on the Mass Transfer Efficiency in Pulsed Electric Field Modes

Despite the growing interest in pulsed electric field modes in membrane separation processes, there are currently not many works devoted to studying the effect of the surface properties and composition of ion-exchange membranes on their efficiency in these modes. In this paper, we have shown the effect of increasing mass transfer using different kinds of ion-exchange membranes (heterogeneous and homogeneous with smooth, undulated, and rough surfaces) during electrodialysis in the pulsed electric field modes at underlimiting and overlimiting currents. It was found that the maximum increment in the average current is achieved when the average potential corresponds to the right-hand edge of the limiting current plateau of the voltammetric curve, i.e., at the maximum resistance of the system in the DC mode. For the first time, the development of electroconvective vortices was visualized in pulsed electric field modes and it was experimentally shown that even at relatively low frequencies, a non-uniform concentration field is preserved at the time of a pause, which stimulates the rapid development of electroconvection when pulses are switched on again. In the case of relatively high pulse frequencies, the electroconvective vortices formed during a pulse lapse do not completely decay during a pause; they only slightly decrease in size.

How Electrical Heterogeneity Parameters of Ion-Exchange Membrane Surface Affect the Mass Transfer and Water Splitting Rate in Electrodialysis

Electrodialysis (ED) has been demonstrated as an effective membrane method for desalination, concentration, and separation. Electroconvection (EC) is a phenomenon which can essentially increase the mass transfer rate and reduce the undesirable water splitting effect. Efforts by a number of researchers are ongoing to create conditions for developing EC, in particular, through the formation of electrical heterogeneity on the membrane surface. We attempt, for the first time, to optimize the parameters of surface electrical heterogeneity for ion-exchange membranes used in a laboratory ED cell. Thirteen different patterns on the surface of two Neosepta anion-exchange membranes, AMX and AMX-Sb, were tested. Low-conductive fluoropolymer spots were formed on the membrane surface using the electrospinning technique. Spots in the form of squares, rectangles, and circles with different sizes and distances between them were applied. We found that the spots' shape did not have a visible effect. The best effect, i.e., the maximum mass transfer rate and the minimum water splitting rate, was found when the spots' size was close to that of the diffusion layer thickness, δ (about 250 μm in the experimental conditions), and the distance between the spots was slightly larger than δ, such that the fraction of the screened surface was about 20%.

Electro-Kinetic Instability in a Laminar Boundary Layer Next to an Ion Exchange Membrane

The electro-kinetic instability in a pressure driven shear flow near an ion exchange membrane is considered. The electrochemical system, through which an electrical potential drop is applied, consists in a polarization layer in contact with the membrane and a bulk. The numerical investigation contained two aspects: analysis of the instability modes and description of the Lagrangian transport of fluid and ions. Regarding the first aspect, the modes were analyzed as a function of the potential drop. The analysis revealed how the spatial distribution of forces controls the dynamics of vortex association and dissociation. In particular, the birth of a counter-clockwise vortex between two clockwise vortices, and the initiation of clusters constituting one or two envelopes wrapping a vortex group, were examined. In regards to the second aspect, the trajectories were computed with the fourth order Runge Kutta scheme for the time integration and with the biquadratric upstream scheme for the spatial and time interpolation of the fluid velocity and the ion flux. The results for the periodic mode showed two kinds of trajectories: the trochoidal motion and the longitudinal one coupled with a periodic transverse motion. For the aperiodic modes, other mechanisms appeared, such as ejection from the mixing layer, trapping by a growing vortex or merging vortices. The analysis of the local velocity field, the vortices’ shape, the spatial distribution of the forces and the ion flux components explained these trajectories.

Electrochemical Properties of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Anion Exchange Membranes Coated with Cation Exchange Polyelectrolyte

Coating ion exchange membranes with polyelectrolyte has been proven to be a cheap way to reduce concentration polarization and increase limiting current (for polyelectrolytes carrying fixed groups of the same sign of charge with respect to the membrane bulk), to create high monovalent selectivity, and to add the function of H⁺/OH⁻ ions generation (for polyelectrolytes bearing fixed groups of the opposite sign of charge with respect to the membrane bulk). In the latter case, the balance between the counterion transport and the H⁺/OH⁻ ions generation is affected by parameters of the substrate and the modifying layer. In this study we investigated the electrochemical characteristics of homogeneous Neosepta AMX-Sb and heterogeneous MA-41P membranes coated with one, two, or three layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte (the maximum thickness of each layer was 5 µm). It was found that the limiting current decreased earlier and the generation of H⁺/OH⁻ ions was stronger in the case of the heterogeneous membrane. The shift in the pH of the solution depended more on the generation of H⁺/OH⁻ ions at the modifying layer/solution interface than on the generation at the membrane/modifying layer interface, and in all cases water splitting started in the same range of potential drops over the membrane.

Transient response of nonideal ion-selective microchannel-nanochannel devices

We report evidence of variation in ion selectivity of a fabricated microchannel-nanochannel device resulting in the appearance of a distinct local maximum in the overlimiting chronopotentiometric response. In this system consisting of shallow microchannels joined by a nanochannel, viscous shear at the microchannel walls suppresses the electro-osmotic instability and prevents any associated contribution to the nonmonotonic response. Thus, this response is primarily electrodiffusive. Numerical simulations indicate that concentration polarization develops not only within the microchannel but also within the nanochannel itself, with a local voltage maximum in the chronopotentiometric response correlated with interfacial depletion and having the classic i^{-2} Sands time dependence. Furthermore, the occurrence of the local maxima is correlated with the change in selectivity due to internal concentration polarization. Understanding the transient nonideal permselective response is essential for obtaining fundamental insight and for optimizing efficient operation of practical fabricated nanofluidic and membrane devices.

Confined Electroconvective Vortices at Structured Ion Exchange Membranes

In this paper, we investigate electroconvective ion transport at cation exchange membranes with different geometry square-wave structures (line undulations) experimentally and numerically. Electroconvective microvortices are induced by strong concentration polarization once a threshold potential difference is applied. The applied potential required to start and sustain electroconvection is strongly affected by the geometry of the membrane. A reduction in the resistance of approximately 50% can be obtained when the structure size is similar to the mixing layer (ML) thickness, resulting in confined vortices with less lateral motion compared to the case of flat membranes. From electrical, flow, and concentration measurements, ion migration, advection, and diffusion are quantified, respectively. Advection and migration are dominant in the vortex ML, whereas diffusion and migration are dominant in the stagnant diffusion layer. Numerical simulations, based on Poisson-Nernst-Planck and Navier-Stokes equations, show similar ion transport and flow characteristics, highlighting the importance of membrane topology on the resulting electrokinetic and electrohydrodynamic behavior.

Competition between diffusion and electroconvection at an ion-selective surface in intensive current regimes

Considering diffusion near a solid surface and simplifying the shape of concentration profile in diffusion-dominated layer allowed Nernst and Brunner to propose their famous equation for calculating the solute diffusion flux. Intensive (overlimiting) currents generate electroconvection (EC), which is a recently discovered interfacial phenomenon produced by the action of an external electric field on the electric space charge formed near an ion-selective interface. EC microscale vortices effectively mix the depleted solution layer that allows the reduction of diffusion transport limitations. Enhancement of ion transport by EC is important in membrane separation, nano-microfluidics, analytical chemistry, electrode kinetics and some other fields. This paper presents a review of the actual understanding of the transport mechanisms in intensive current regimes, where the role of diffusion declines in the profit of EC. We analyse recent publications devoted to explore the properties of different zones of the diffusion layer. Visualization of concentration profile and fluid current lines are considered as well as mathematical modelling of the overlimiting transfer.