Phenylalanine Losses in Neutralization Dialysis: Modeling and Experiment

A non-steady state mathematical model of an amino acid (phenylalanine (Phe)) and mineral salt (NaCl) solution separation by neutralization dialysis (ND) carried out in a batch mode is proposed. The model takes into account the characteristics of membranes (thickness, ion-exchange capacity, and conductivity) and solutions (concentration, composition). As compared to previously developed models, the new one considers the local equilibrium of Phe protolysis reactions in solutions and membranes and the transport of all the phenylalanine forms (zwitterionic, positively and negatively charged) through membranes. A series of experiments on ND demineralization of the NaCl and Phe mixed solution was carried out. In order to minimize Phe losses, the solution pH in the desalination compartment was controlled by changing the concentrations of the solutions in the acid and alkali compartments of the ND cell. The validity of the model was verified by comparison of simulated and experimental time dependencies of solution electrical conductivity and pH, as well as the concentration of Na⁺, Cl^- ions, and Phe species in the desalination compartment. Based on the simulation results, the role of Phe transport mechanisms in the losses of this amino acid during ND was discussed. In the experiments carried out, the demineralization rate reached 90%, accompanied by minimal Phe losses of about 16%. Modeling predicts a steep increase in Phe losses when the demineralization rate is higher than 95%. Nevertheless, simulations show that it is possible to achieve a highly demineralized solution (by 99.9%) with Phe losses amounting to 42%.

Influence of Surface Modification of MK-40 Membrane with Polyaniline on Scale Formation under Electrodialysis

A comprehensive study of the polyaniline influence on mineral scaling on the surface of the heterogeneous MK-40 sulfocationite membrane under electrodialysis has been conducted. Current-voltage curves and chronopotentiograms have been obtained and analyzed for the pristine MK-40 membrane and the MK-40 membrane which is surface-modified by polyaniline. The study of the electrochemical behavior of membranes has been accompanied by the simultaneous control of the pH of the solution outcoming from the desalination compartment. The mixture of Na₂CO₃, KCl, CaCl₂, and MgCl₂ is used as a model salt solution. Two limiting states are observed on the current-voltage curve of the surface-modified membrane. There is the first pseudo-limiting state in the range of small values of the potential drop. The second limiting current is comparable with that of the limiting current for the pristine membrane. It is shown that chronopotentiometry cannot be used as a self-sufficient method for membrane scaling identification on the surface-modified membrane at high currents. A mineral scale on the surfaces of the studied membranes has been found by scanning electron microscopy. The amount of precipitate is higher in the case of the surface-modified membrane compared with the pristine one.

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%.

Transport Characteristics of Fujifilm Ion-Exchange Membranes as Compared to Homogeneous Membranes АМХ and СМХ and to Heterogeneous Membranes MK-40 and MA-41

Ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) find more and more applications; the success of an application depends on the properties of the membranes selected for its realization. For the first time, the results of a comprehensive characterization of the transport properties of IEMs from three manufactures (Astom, Japan; Shchekinoazot, Russia; and Fujifilm, The Netherlands) are reported. Our own and literature data are presented and analyzed using the microheterogeneous model. Homogeneous Neosepta AMX and CMX (Astom), heterogeneous MA-41 and MK-40 (Shchekinoazot), and AEM Type-I, AEM Type-II, AEM Type-X, as well as CEM Type-I, CEM Type-II, and CEM Type-X produced by the electrospinning method (Fujifim) were studied. The concentration dependencies of the conductivity, diffusion permeability, as well as the real and apparent ion transport numbers in these membranes were measured. The counterion transport number characterizing the membrane permselectivity increases in the following order: CEM Type-I ≅ MA-41 < AEM Type-I < MK-40 < CMX ≅ CEM Type-II ≅ CEM Type-X ≅ AEM Type-II < AMX < AEM Type-X. It is shown that the properties of the AEM Type-I and CEM Type-I membranes are close to those of the heterogeneous MA-41 and MK-40 membranes, while the properties of Fujifilm Type-II and Type-X membranes are close to those of the homogeneous AMX and CMX membranes. This difference is related to the fact that the Type-I membranes have a relatively high parameter f2, the volume fraction of the electroneutral solution filling the intergel spaces. This high value is apparently due to the open-ended pores, formed by the reinforcing fabric filaments of the Type-I membranes, which protrude above the surface of these membranes.

Porous structure of ion exchange membranes investigated by various techniques

A comparative review of various techniques is provided: mercury intrusion porosimetry, nitrogen sorption porosimetry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)-based thermoporosimetry, and standard contact porosimetry (SCP), which allows determining pore volume distribution versus pore radius/water binding energy in ion-exchange membranes (IEMs). IEMs in the swollen state have a labile structure involving micro-, meso- and macropores, whose size is a function of the external water vapor pressure. For such materials, the most appropriate methods for quantifying their porosity are DSC and SCP. Especially significant information is given by the SCP method allowing measuring porosimetric curves in a very large pore size range from 1 to 10⁵nm. Experimental results of water distribution in homogeneous and heterogeneous commercial and modified IEMs are presented. The effect of various factors on water distribution is reviewed, i.e. nature of polymeric matrix and functional groups, method for membrane preparation, membrane ageing. A special attention is given to the effect of membrane modification by embedding nanoparticles in their structure. The porosimetric curves are considered along with the results of electrochemical characterization involving the measurements of membrane conductivity, as well as diffusion and electroosmotic permeability. It is shown that addition of nanoparticles may lead to either increase or decrease of water content in IEMs, different ranges of pore size being affected. Hybrid membranes modified with hydrated zirconium dioxide exhibit much higher permselectivity in comparison with the pristine membranes. The diversity of the responses of membrane properties to their modification allows for formation of membranes suitable for fuel cells, electrodialysis or other applications.

Application of chronopotentiometry to determine the thickness of diffusion layer adjacent to an ion-exchange membrane under natural convection

A brief review of the evolution of the diffusion boundary layer (DBL) conception inspired by the works of Nernst, Levich and Amatore is presented. Experimental methods for studying the DBL in electrode and membrane systems are considered. The electrochemical behaviour of a CM2 cation-exchange membrane in NaCl and KCl solutions is studied by chronopotentiometry at constant under-limiting current. Chronopotentiometric curves are described theoretically by applying the Kedem-Katchalsky equations in differential form to a three-layer system including the membrane and two adjoining DBLs. The conductance coefficients entering the equations are found by treating the results of membrane characterisation: the electrical conductivity, transport numbers of ions and water, electrolyte uptake, as functions of the equilibrium electrolyte solution. The two-phase microheterogeneous model is used for this treatment resulting in presentation of the conductance coefficients as functions of (virtual) electrolyte solution concentration in the membrane. The steady-state DBL thickness (delta) is found by fitting experimental potential drop at sufficiently high times. It is found that delta is proportional to (Delta c)(-0.2), where Delta c is the difference between the electrolyte concentration in the solution bulk and at the interface. This result differs from the Levich equation, which gives the power equal to -0.25 for Delta c. This deviation is explained by the fact that the theory of Levich does not take into account microscopic chaotic convection motion recently described by Amatore et al. It is shown that the treatment of experimental chronopotentiometric curves with the model developed allows one to observe the role of streaming potential in the membrane. Different mechanisms of streaming potential and their effect on the shape of chronopotentiograms are discussed. A simple analytical solution of Navier-Stokes equations applied to natural convection near an infinite vertical ion-exchange membrane is found. It is shown that the formation of DBL induced by electric current is quasi-stationary. This fact allows the empirical expression found earlier and linking delta with Delta c under steady-state conditions to be used in transient regimes. The numerical solution of the non-stationary Kedem-Katchalsky equations together with this empirical expression results in quantitative description of the potential difference (pd) and delta as functions of time in chronopotentiometric experiments. The comparison of theoretical and experimental chronopotentiometric curves shows an excellent agreement, especially for the part after switching off the current. The reasons of a small deviation observed just before the curves attain steady state under a constant current applied are discussed.