A simulation tool for ion exchange membrane crystallization of magnesium hydroxide from waste brine

• Development of a novel simulation tool for magnesium membrane crystallizer. Use selective membranes allows low-cost alkaline reactants. Original experimental information in batch and feed & bleed configurations. Model validation via comparison with experiments use process analysis. Increasing attention is nowadays paid to the management valorisation industrial waste brines aiming also at recovery raw materials. Magnesium has been listed as Critical Raw Material by EU, prompting researchers investigate routes its recovery. Within this framework, Crystallizer Ion Exchange Membrane (CrIEM), proposed an innovative way recover from exploiting In present work, mathematical model CrIEM provide useful design different working conditions. Batch continuous configurations have investigated taking into account: (i) variation brine concentration their own collection tanks over time (ii) spatial mono-dimensional (1D) steady-state description main phenomena that occur inside CrIEM. data, ad-hoc laboratory tests, literature were used validate both configuration. A good agreement between predictions experimental/literature data was found cases, thus proving reliability reactor.