General Electric Company
Bipolar electrodialysis methods and systems

Abstract:

A bipolar membrane electrodialysis method and system are described for purifying an organic acid from an aqueous solution containing the salt of the organic acid. The system includes a bipolar membrane electrodialysis stack that includes at least one three-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell and at least one two-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell. The method includes recirculating the solution of organic acid produced from the three-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell and two-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis cell. Cation or anion exchange resins may be included in the spacers of acid compartment to increase the conductivity of acid compartments, thereby increasing current density of the bipolar electrodialysis stack and decreasing power consumption.