Application and modeling of pressure-concentration double-driven diffusion dialysis

Comparison of Anion-Exchange Membranes for Diffusion Dialysis of Mixtures of Acids and Their Iron Salts

This study presents the possibility of using diffusion dialysis for the separation of inorganic acids (hydrochloric, nitric, and hydrofluoric) and their ferric salts whose composition corresponds to that of real spent pickling solutions. At a steady state, the transport properties of three different anion-exchange membranes (Fumasep-FAD, Neosepta-AFN, and Neosepta-AHA) are compared using a continuous counter-current dialyzer. At a constant composition of the solutions (acid concentration 3 mol L-1 and iron concentration 30-40 g L-1), the effects of volumetric liquid flow rates on the transport rate of H+ and Fe3+ ions through the membrane are studied. The dialysis process is characterized by the recovery of acids and the rejection of salts. Furthermore, the values of the dialysis coefficients of acids, iron, and the acid/iron separation factors are calculated and compared. The volumetric flow rates of the inlet streams change in limits from 3 × 10-8 to 6 × 10-8 m3 s-1 (from 3 to 6 L h-1 m-2, relative to the membrane area). A comparison of the tested membranes shows slightly better results for acid recovery, iron rejection, and acid/iron separation factors for the Fumasep-FAD membrane than for the Neosepta-AFN membrane. However, the results obtained show that both of these anion-exchange membranes can be considered good separators for tested mixtures that simulate real spent pickling solutions, and there is a good precondition for using diffusion dialysis for processing these solutions in industrial practice. On the contrary, very low values of acid recovery and the overall dialysis coefficient of acid are found for the Neosepta-AHA membrane in the test range of the volumetric flow rate, and, thus, this membrane is insufficient for the adequate separation of these acids and iron salts.

Treatment of Spent Pickling Solutions by Diffusion Dialysis Using Anion-Exchange Membrane Neosepta-AFN

This article presents the possibility of using diffusion dialysis for processing spent pickling solution from pickling stainless steels with a mixture of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid. A counter-current two-compartment dialyzer equipped with an anion-exchange membrane Neosepta-AFN was used to study and compare the diffusion dialysis of model mixture of hydrofluoric acid and ferric nitrate and a real spent pickling solution. The separation efficiency was characterized by the acid recovery yield, the rejection coefficient of the metals, the permeability coefficient of the membrane, and the separation factor. These characteristics were calculated from the data obtained at steady state. For the real spent pickling solution tested, the permeability values of nitrates 1.7 × 10^-6 m s^-1, fluorides 0.4 × 10^-6 m s^-1, and ferric ions 1.1 × 10^-7 m s^-1 were achieved. The separation factor for nitrates/ferric ions was 15.7 and 3.6 for fluorides/ferric ions. Furthermore, the dependencies of recovery yield and rejection for different concentrations of hydrofluoric acid and ferric nitrate were determined.

Diffusion Dialysis for Acid Recovery from Acidic Waste Solutions: Anion Exchange Membranes and Technology Integration

Inorganic acids are commonly used in mining, metallurgical, metal-processing, and nuclear-fuel-reprocessing industries in various processes, such as leaching, etching, electroplating, and metal-refining. Large amounts of spent acidic liquids containing toxic metal ion complexes are produced during these operations, which pose a serious hazard to the living and non-living environment. Developing economic and eco-friendly regeneration approaches to recover acid and valuable metals from these industrial effluents has focused the interest of the research community. Diffusion dialysis (DD) using anion exchange membranes (AEMs) driven by an activity gradient is considered an effective technology with a low energy consumption and little environmental contamination. In addition, the properties of AEMs have an important effect on the DD process. Hence, this paper gives a critical review of the properties of AEMs, including their acid permeability, membrane stability, and acid selectivity during the DD process for acid recovery. Furthermore, the DD processes using AEMs integrated with various technologies, such as pressure, an electric field, or continuous operation are discussed to enhance its potential for industrial applications. Finally, some directions are provided for the further development of AEMs in DD for acid recovery from acidic waste solutions.