Electrodialysis modeling for desalination and resource recovery

Abstract

Electrodialysis (ED) is a viable technology for treating unconventional waters due to its higher chemical and mechanical stability and less propensity to fouling and scaling compared to other membrane technologies. With the advances in electro-driven separation processes, ED has become a multipurpose technology capable of brine treatment, mineral recovery, chemical production, and desalination. Modeling has assisted in developing new ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) and optimizing operating parameters to enhance ED performance. Still, there is an opportunity to extend ED modeling for resource recovery by including computational-aided membrane development that will help identify new selective IEMs and reduce the experimental testing by acting as a membrane screening tool. Additionally, a multifunctional optimization approach using machine learning or artificial intelligence will enable the simulation and optimization of experimental parameters, leading to reduced experimental testing and minimized levelized cost of production.