Energy Harvesting by Waste Acid/Base Neutralization via Bipolar Membrane Reverse Electrodialysis

Andrea Zaffora, Andrea Culcasi, Luigi Gurreri, Alessandro Cosenza, Alessandro Tamburini, Monica Santamaria and Giorgio Micale
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Andrea Zaffora: Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Andrea Culcasi: Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Luigi Gurreri: Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Alessandro Cosenza: Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Alessandro Tamburini: Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Monica Santamaria: Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Giorgio Micale: Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-22

Abstract: Bipolar Membrane Reverse Electrodialysis (BMRED) can be used to produce electricity exploiting acid-base neutralization, thus representing a valuable route in reusing waste streams. The present work investigates the performance of a lab-scale BMRED module under several operating conditions. By feeding the stack with 1 M HCl and NaOH streams, a maximum power density of ~17 W m −2 was obtained at 100 A m −2 with a 10-triplet stack with a flow velocity of 1 cm s −1 , while an energy density of ~10 kWh m −3 acid could be extracted by a complete neutralization. Parasitic currents along feed and drain manifolds significantly affected the performance of the stack when equipped with a higher number of triplets. The apparent permselectivity at 1 M acid and base decreased from 93% with the five-triplet stack to 54% with the 38-triplet stack, which exhibited lower values (~35% less) of power density. An important role may be played also by the presence of NaCl in the acidic and alkaline solutions. With a low number of triplets, the added salt had almost negligible effects. However, with a higher number of triplets it led to a reduction of 23.4–45.7% in power density. The risk of membrane delamination is another aspect that can limit the process performance. However, overall, the present results highlight the high potential of BMRED systems as a productive way of neutralizing waste solutions for energy harvesting.

Keywords: pH gradient; waste to energy; ion-exchange membrane; wastewater valorization; controlled neutralization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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