Ion exchange membranes in electrodialysis process for wastewater treatment

Abstract

Water is the most important natural resource on earth. Survival without water is impossible and industries cannot operate without water as well. Availability of safe and reliable source of water is therefore essential. Different practical solutions are needed for sustainable preservation of water resources as freshwater resources are limited in terms of technical and economical aspects. Membrane technologies can be applied to water and wastewater treatment for removal of various unwanted substances from water. Recently, the utilization of membrane technologies in the water purification sector has grown exponentially. Compared to conventional reclamation methods, membrane technologies are much more efficient for removal of various contaminants and they are able to overcome more stringent water regulations. Membrane separation processes employed for water treatment include reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and electrodialysis (ED). In this chapter, we reviewed the basic principles of electromembrane processes, such as ED, electrodeionization, electrodialysis reversal, and bipolar membrane ED based on ion exchange membranes (IEMs) along with few examples of the use of these processes in water and wastewater treatment. In addition, fouling of IEMs is also discussed. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.