MODELING ELECTRODIALYSIS USING THE MAXWELL-STEFAN DESCRIPTION

The Maxwell-Stefan mass transfer description is applied to two electrodialysis systems. Firstly, a model system involving NaCl and HCl is investigated. For this system, all the model parameters are obtained either from separate experiments or existing correlations. Although it is not possible to determine all the parameters accurately, the values found are all within the ranges expected. Secondly, a two amino acid system is investigated. The separation of two amino acids using electrodialysis is found to be feasible. Unfortunately, it is too difficult to obtain sufficient data for a proper quantitative description of the process. In both cases, the Maxwell-Stefan description appears to provide a thorough model of the electrodialysis process.