Publication

Advanced Redox Technology Lab

Journal papers

New method for electrochemical ion separation (ElONS) for chloride/nitrate separation using Ag/AgCl electrodes with a cation exchange membrane
Author
J. Ahn, S. Kim, S. -I. Jeon, C. Lee, P. M. Biesheuvel, J. Lee*, J. Yoon**
Journal
J. Environ. Chem. Eng.
Issue / Vol
6/9
Date
2021.12.01
Year
2021

Electrochemical ion separation (EIONS) is attracting attention as a new ion separation technology because no by-products are generated during the process. However, conventional EIONS systems have lower selectivity for anions; it has limitations in its application to selective anion extraction. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new EIONS system with high selectivity for specific anions. In this study, we introduce a highly selective EIONS for Cl- extraction from a mixed solution of Cl- and NO3- using silver/silver-chloride electrodes with a cation exchange membrane. This technique is based on the principle that Ag/AgCl electrodes starts to react with Cl- at a specific potential to remove Cl- from the mixture. As a result, this system removed Cl- with 80 times higher selectivity than its removal of NO3- even at the low cell voltage of 0.3 V. Furthermore, it was found that this system could be operated at a current density as high as 5 mA cm−2, suggesting for rapid extraction. We believe that this system can be feasible for separating Cl- and NO3- electrochemically.


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