Production of monoprotic, diprotic, and triprotic organic acids by using electrodialysis with bipolar membranes: Effect of cell configurations

To investigate the production of monoprotic, diprotic, and triprotic organic acids by using electrodialysis with bipolar membranes, acetic acid, oxalic acid, and citric acid were chosen as the target products. The effects of cell configuration and acid species on process performances were evaluated by considering such factors as the stack voltage drop, acid yield, current efficiency, and energy consumption. The results indicated that BP-C was the most acceptable cell configuration when salt concentration was 0.13 mol dm−3 and current density was 10 mA cm−2. The whole electrodialysis with bipolar membranes process has reached a highest current efficiency of 75%. The energy consumptions of acetic acid, oxalic acid, and citric acid were 3.8–15.7, 7.3–21.1, and 8.1–22.7 kWh kg−1 with the experimental conditions, respectively. The produced acid concentration at a given time follows the order of acetic acid > oxalic acid > citric acid.

► Production of organic acids by electrodialysis with bipolar membranes was performed.
► Effects of cell configuration and acid radicals on acids production were evaluated.
► Acids species were correlated with ions permselectivity in anion exchange membrane.