Reverse electrodialysis(RED) is an energy conversion technology to convert chemical energy into electrochemical energy. Chemical energy is provided by the difference in salinity between diluted salt solutions such as seawater and dilute salt solutions such as fresh water. RED stacks are alternately arranged by a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane between two electrodes. For the application of RED in several field sites, most of the technology using membranes needs fouling control to minimize a decrease in performance. Ion exchange membranes are easily contaminated with charged or non-charged organic matters potentially existed in river or sea water, which causes a decrease in the performance of RED. In this study, the fouling phenomena of cation and anion exchange membranes for various foulants possibly found in seawater and river water were investigated. Ion exchange membranes were contaminated with NaCl solution containing foulants, and the electrical resistance and the degree of contamination with contamination time were measured. The cation exchange membrane is contaminated with a cationic foulants and the anion exchange membrane is contaminated with anionic foulants. In addition, non-charged foulants were also investigated to cause fouling to anion and/or cation exchange membranes. The fouled membranes were regenerated, and the electric resistance and the degree of contamination with regeneration time were measured.<br/><br/>

Fouling phenomena and fouling mitigation of ion exchange membranes in reverse electrodialysis for salinity power generation

2019 Fall National Meeting

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