Modeling of metal ion removal from waste

In this paper, the electrodialysis (ED) process was modeled based on basic electrochemistry rules and experimental data involving copper ion separation. The methodology employed the Taguchi method for experimental design, which was subsequently applied to zinc, lead, and chromium ions as well. The results demonstrated that the performance of the ED cell was primarily dependent on operating conditions and cell structure, rather than the specific type of ions. A model was formulated using a differential equation of steady-state mass balance, where the resistances of ion exchange membranes were neglected in comparison to the resistances of bulk solutions in both dilute and concentrate compartments. This led to the derivation of a final one-parameter model, with the model parameter determined using experimental data. The model effectively provides separation percentages across varying temperatures, concentrations, flow rates, and voltages. To validate the model, a comparison was conducted between the calculated and measured experimental data, revealing substantial agreement between the two sets of results.