Electrodialysis Module for Organic Acid Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for concentrating organic acids and caustic soda are energy-intensive, have low yield, and are complicated, with the use of bipolar membranes being costly and inefficient, making them unsuitable for widespread industrial application.
Innovation Solution
An electrodialysis module comprising a working tank with ion-exchange membranes and electrodes, where the membranes divide the tank into compartments to facilitate the separation and concentration of acids or alkalis through an electric field, allowing for efficient purification and recovery of organic acids and caustic soda.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If evaporation crystallization or solvent extraction is used to concentrate organic acids, then concentration is achieved, but energy consumption is high and impurity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal evaporation and solvent extraction methods with an electrodialysis system that uses electric fields and ion-exchange membranes to separate and concentrate organic acids. This substitution of mechanical/thermal processes with electrochemical processes reduces energy consumption and avoids high impurity levels associated with traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ion-exchange membranes as intermediaries that selectively transport ions under an electric field. These membranes act as mediators between the organic acid solution and the concentration process, enabling selective separation of acid ions from other components without the need for high-energy evaporation or solvent systems.
2Quantity of substance
If bipolar membrane is used for recovering organic acids, then recovery is achieved, but cost is high and dialysis amount is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive bipolar membranes with conventional ion-exchange membranes that are more cost-effective and have longer operational lifetimes. The system uses multiple compartments with standard ion-exchange membranes arranged in series, providing a economical alternative to single complex bipolar membrane structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the concentration process into multiple sequential compartments, each containing ion-exchange membranes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high recovery rates through cumulative effect across multiple stages without requiring a single complex bipolar membrane, thereby reducing overall system cost and complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If evaporation concentration is used for caustic soda, then concentration is achieved, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal evaporation with electrochemical concentration using electrodialysis. Electric fields drive ion migration through ion-exchange membranes to concentrate caustic soda, substituting high-energy thermal processes with lower-energy electrochemical processes that achieve the same concentration goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration mechanism from thermal parameter (temperature-driven evaporation) to electrical parameter (electric field-driven ion migration). This parameter change enables caustic soda concentration with significantly reduced energy consumption by utilizing electrochemical potential differences instead of thermal energy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electrodialysis module effectively isolates salts, purifies acids, and produces high-concentration alkalis, reducing costs and energy consumption while improving recovery rates, making it suitable for various industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first ion-exchange membrane and a second ion-exchange membrane which are disposed in the working tank and together divide the working tank into two electrode compartments and a desalination compartment
Implementation Method 2
The at least two second electrodes and the at least one first electrode have different polarities
Implementation Method 3
The at least two second electrodes and the at least one first electrode have different polarities
Data Source
AI summary
An electrodialysis module includes at least one base unit. The base unit includes a working tank, a first ion-exchange membrane, a second ion-exchange membrane, at least one first electrode, and at least two second electrodes. The first ion-exchange membrane and the second ion-exchange membrane are located in the working tank. The first ion-exchange membrane and the second ion-exchange membrane together divide the working tank into two electrode compartments and a desalination compartment therebetween. The at least one first electrode is disposed in the desalination compartment. The at least two second electrodes are disposed in each of the electrode compartments, respectively, in which the at least two second electrodes and the at least one first electrode have different polarities.