DIALYSIS and

ELECTRODIALYSIS

By:- Palak Agarwal

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 Dialysis
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a membrane process where solutes (MW~<100 Da)
diffuse from one side of the membrane (feed side) to the
other (dialysate or permeate side) according to their
concentration gradient. First application in the 70s.

General Principles
Separation between solutes is obtained as a result of
differences in diffusion rates.
These are arising from differences in molecular size and
solubility.
This means that the resistance increases with increasing
molecular weight.
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 Dialysis
A typical concentration profile for dialysis with boundary layer
resistences

contains low-molecular-weight solute, A

intermediate size molecules, B , and a colloid, C

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 Dialysis
In order to obtain a high flux, the membrane should be as thin
as possible

membrane
Purifed
feed feed

dialysate

Schematic drawing of the dialysis process

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 Dialysis
The solutes separate by passing through the membrane that
behaves like a fibre filter and separation occurs by a sieving
action based on the pore diameter and particle size
(i.e. smaller molecules will diffuse faster than larger molecules).

Transport proceedes via diffusion through a nonporous

membranes.

Membranes are highly swollen to reduce diffusive resistence.

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 Dialysis
Transport

Separation of solutes is determined by the concentration of the

molecules on either side of the membrane; the molecules will
flow from a high concentration to a lower concentration.
Dialysis is a diffusion process and at steady-state transport can
be described by :

D K P
J i i i ci i ci
l l
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 Dialysis
Membranes
homogeneous
Thicknes: 10 100 m
Membrane material: hydrophilic polymers
(regenerated cellulose such as cellophane,
cellulose acetate, copolymers of ethylene-vinyl
alcohol and ethylene-vinyl acetate)
Membrane application: optimum between diffusion
rate and swelling

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 Dialysis
Applications

Dialysis is used in varying circumstances such as: when a large

pressure difference on the sides of the membrane is impractical,
in heat sensitive areas, and when organic solvents are not
feasible. In areas such as the bloodstream, a pressure difference
would rupture blood cells. Dialysis is not a function of pressure;
therefore a pressure difference is not needed.

By far the most important application of dialysis is the therapeutic

treatment of patients with renal failure. The technique is called
hemodialysis and attempts to mimic the action of the nephron of
the kidney in the separation of low molecular weight solutes, such
as urea and creatinine, from the blood of patients with chronic
uremia.
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Dialysis

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 Dialysis
Further applications

Recovery of causic soda from colloidal

hemicellulose during viscose manufacture
Removal of alcohol from beer
Salt removal in bioproducts (enzymes)
Fractionation (pharmaceutical industry)

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 Dialysis
Diffusion dialysis

Diffusion process in which protons and hydroxyl ions are

removed from an aqueous stream across an ionic
membrane due to a concentration difference
Similar to dialysis but due to the presence of ions and an
ionic membrane => Donnan equilibria build up => electrical
potential has to be included into the transport (flux)
calculation.

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 Dialysis

Diffusion dialysis

Membranes: ion exchange membranes (cation and anion)

similar to electrodialsis
Thickness: ~few hundreds of m (100 - 500 m)
Separation principle: Donnan exclusion mechanism
Main applications: acid recovery from eaching, pickling and
metal refining; alkali recovery from textile and metal refining
processes.

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 Dialysis
Diffusion dialysis

Example: HF and HNO3 are often used as etching agents

for stainless steel. In order to recover the acid, diffusion
dialysis can be applied since the protons can pass the
membrane but the Fe3+ ions can not.

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
What is electrodialysis?
Electrodialysis is a membrane process in which ions are
transported through ion permeable membranes from one
solution to another under the influence of an electrical
potential gradient. First applications in the 30s.

General Principles
Salts dissolved in water forms ions, being positively
(cationic) or negatively (anionic) charged.
These ions are attracted to electrodes with an opposite
electric charge.
Membranes can be constructed to permit selective passage
of either anions or cations.
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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
How the process takes place?

Electrodialysis cell

Module
Hundreds of anionic and cationic
membranes placed alternatively

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
Ion Permeable Membranes
Non porous
Sheets of ion-exchange resins and other polymers
Thickness 100 - 500 m

Are divided in
Anion - exchange Cation - exchange
Positively charged groups Negatively charged groups
E.g. Quarternary ammonium salts E.g. Sulfonic or carboxylic acid groups
NR3 or C5H5N-R - SO3 -

Chemically attached to the polymer chains

(e.g. styrene/divinylbenzene copolymers)

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
Types of Ion - Exchange Membranes
Ion - exchange resines + Film - forming polymer
Heterogeneous High Electrical resistance
Poor mechanical strenght

Homogeneous Introduction of an ionic group into a polymer film

Crosslinking

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
Requirements for Ion - Exchange Membranes
High electrical conductivity
High ionic permeability
Moderate degree of swelling
High mechanical strength

Charge density 1 - 2 mequiv / g dry polymer

Electrical Resistance 2 - 10 .cm2

Diffusion coefficient 10-6 - 10-10 cm2/s

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
How the process takes place?

Donnan exclusion
Electrostatic repulsion

Osmotic flow

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
Designing of an electrodialysis desalination plant
Desalination 142 (2002) 267-286 Width of the cell
Parameters: Length of the stack
Stack Construction Thickness of the cell chamber
Feed and product concentration
Membrane permselectivity Volume factor
Flow velocities Shadow effect
Current density
Recovery Rates
Safety factor

Component design and properties

Optimized in terms of Operating Parameters

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
Electrodialysis desalination costs
Costs
Amount of ionic species
Operating costs Electrical energy

Energy consumption Energy for pumps Plant size

Maintenance Feed salinity

Capital costs

Depreciable items (ED stacks, pumps, membranes, etc.)

Non-depreciable items (land, working capital)

Properties
Membrane Costs Feed concentration

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)
Applications

Potable from brackish water

Food products - whey, milk, soy sauce, fruit juice
Nitrate from drinking water
Boiler feed water
Reduce Rinse water for electronics processing
Electrolyte Effluent streams
Content Blood plasma to recover proteins
Sugar and molasses
Amino acids
Potassium tartrate from wine
Fiber reactive dyes

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)

Pure NaCl from seawater

Recover Electrolytes Salts of organic acids from fermentation broth
Amino acids from protein hydrolysates
HCl from cellulose hydrolysate

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 ELECTRODIALYSIS (ED)

Electrodialysis Reversal Process (EDR)

The polarity of the electrodes is reversed, so the
permeate becomes the retentate and viceversa.

Electrodialysis at high temperatures

Electrodialysis with electrolysis

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