A comprehensive multi-scale model for bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED)

Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) is a technology combining solute and solvent dissociation to produce chemicals. In the recent decades, it has been typically studied for production of valuable acid base solutions from salt streams. Although many works have devoted experimental investigation BMED, only few efforts focused on its mathematical modelling. present work, comprehensive process model based multi-scale approach with distributed parameters presented first time. Five models related four different dimensional scales were fully integrated form tool. The was developed by using simulator gPROMS Model builder semi-empirical high prediction accuracy low computational demand. Once validated through wide range data, capability shown carrying out broad sensitivity analysis assessing performance BMED industrial-scale applications. Results showed how unit changes both varying conditions installed area. Particularly, non-ideal phenomena that reduce produced NaOH concentration increase energy consumption thoroughly investigated. Finally, this study demonstrated Levelized Cost Of Caustic Soda about 280 € ton-1NaOH can be obtained, thus making possible candidate industrial caustic soda brines in future.