Electrodialyzers for efficient recycling of valuable components from industrial wastewater

The project has two sub-objectives. The first is to develop and validate energy efficient industrial electrodialyzers capable of recycling different types of valuable components from industrial wastewater (IWW). The emphasis will be on achieving the highest possible product concentration and the lowest possible power consumption for electrodialysis at the highest possible current efficiency. The second sub-objective of the project is to validate the technology for the recovery of chemicals from rinse water from galvanic plant neutralization stations using the proposed electrodialyser for EDBM. Acidic waters from the rinsing baths contain acidic residues and precious metals (Cu, Ni; hundreds to thousands of mg/l). The rinse waters are neutralised to precipitate the heavy metals. After precipitation, the remaining solution will be treated using the EDBM process, yielding acid to be recycled into the process and caustic to be reused for further precipitation. This will significantly reduce chemical consumption throughout the process. As part of this objective, a semi-operational electrodialysis unit with three to four working circuits will also be designed and implemented to allow the proposed multi-circuit modules to be validated under realistic conditions.