This communication is concerned with the optimization of the neutralization dialysis process. This process is used for salt removal from a NaCl model solution, and a three-compartment membrane stack is typically used (acid, salt, and alkali compartments) with a cation-exchange membrane and an anion-exchange one, i.e. Neosepta� CMX and AMX respectively.   The desalination process has been investigated as a function of three main parameters, namely the initial concentration and the flux rate of acidic and alkaline solutions as well as the saline solution volume. A fractional factorial design, 25-1, has been employed to assess the parameters affecting the desalination efficiency, and specifically to study the ion-exchange of H+ and Na+ through CMX and that of OH- and Cl- through AMX. A linear theoretical model based on the experimental results has been carried out to account for the influence of the different parameters investigated and their relative interactions. Variance Analysis (ANOVA), the F-test, and Student's test have shown that the interaction between acidic and alkaline initial concentration is the most statistically significant parameter affecting the ion transport through CMX and AMX.

Ion transport through ion-exchange membranes for water desalination application by neutralization dialysis

248th National Meeting (2014)

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