Modeling and simulation of continuous electrodialysis metathesis process for conversion of Na2SO4 to K2SO4

Electrodialysis metathesis is an attractive technology to synthesize electrolyte by electrodialysis technology. It could realize the metathesis reaction and product concentration simultaneously in one process. A semi-empirical mathematical model based on Nernst–Planck equations was built to describe the continuous EDM process converting Na2SO4 to K2SO4. The parameters of mathematical model were determined by the experimental data. The simulated results were verified by the laboratory scale test and a pilot-scale experiment. The economic feasibility of an industrial scale process was evaluated. It was indicated that the current density had a significant effect on the capital cost of EDM, while the effect of feed concentration was small. The specific cost of EDM was lowest when the current density was 150 A·m−2 in this paper.