Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers (대한환경공학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Engineers (대한환경공학회)
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Production of Ammonia Water and Sulfuric Acid from Ammonium Sulfate by Electrodialysis with a Bipolar Membrane

바이폴라막 전기투석을 이용한 황산암모늄으로부터 암모니아수와 황산의 제조

  • Hwang, Ui-Son (Department of Chemical Engineering, Kongju National University) ;
  • Choi, Jae-Hwan (Department of Chemical Engineering, Kongju National University)
  • Published : 2005.01.31
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Abstract

This study examined the feasibility of producing sulfuric acid and ammonia water from ammonium sulfate solution using two-compartment electrodialysis with a bipolar membrane (EDBM). Electrodialysis experiments were carried out with 20 wt% ammonium sulfate at different current densities and sulfuric acid concentrations in a concentrate compartment. The current efficiency increased with the current density from 25 to $100\;mA/cm^2$. Nevertheless, the efficiency was relatively low compared with that of general desalting electrodialysis, owing to the diffusion of sulfuric acid from the concentrate compartment to the diluate. The diffusion rate through the anion exchange membrane increased with the sulfuric acid concentration in the concentrate compartment, which decreased the current efficiency. Conversely, the electrical resistance decreased with increasing current density owing to the Joulian heat generated during water dissociation in the transition region of the bipolar membrane under a high electric field. From the experimental results, we concluded that operating at a higher current density is effective from the perspective of current efficiency and electrical resistance when producing sulfuric acid and ammonia water from ammonium sulfate using a two-compartment EDBM process. Further studies on the effects of increasing the sulfuric acid concentration on current efficiency are required to apply the EDBM process practically.

2실 구조의 바이폴라막 전기투석(EDBM) 공정을 이용하여 황산암모늄으로부터 황산과 암모니아수를 제조하기 위한 연구를 수행하였다. 황산암모늄 농도가 20 wt%인 용액에 대해 전류밀도 및 농축조에서의 황산 농도를 변화시켜 가면서 전기투석을 실시하였다. 전류밀도를 $25{\sim}100\;mA/cm^2$의 범위에서 운전한 결과 전류밀도가 증가할수록 전류효율은 증가하였다. 그러나 농축조의 황산이 음이온교환막을 통해 희석조로 확산됨으로써 일반적인 탈염용 전기투석 공정에 비해 효율이 크게 떨어지는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 농축조의 황산농도가 증가할수록 음이온교환막에서 황산의 확산속도가 증가하여 전류효율은 급격히 감소하였다. 한편 전류밀도가 증가할수록 스택의 전기저항은 감소하였는데 이는 바이폴라막의 전이영역에서 높은 전기장하에서 물이 분해되면서 발생하는 주울열에 기인하는 것으로 해석된다. 실험 결과 2실 구조의 EDBM 공정을 통해 황산암모늄으로부터 황산과 암모니아수를 생산하기 위해서는 전류효율과 전기저항 측면에서 높은 전류밀도로 운전하는 것이 효과적인 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 실제 공정에 적용되기 위해서는 전류효율을 높이면서 농축조의 황산농도를 높일 수 있는 연구가 추가적으로 진행되어야 할 것으로 판단되었다.

Keywords

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