Separation of sulfuric acid from spent acid using membrane based separation process-electrodialysis Synopsis of the thesis to be submitted in the partial fulfilment of the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering (original) (raw)

Electrodialysis (ED) is an efficient method for treating acidic effluents, particularly for recovering sulfuric acid from spent acidic liquor. This study investigates the performance of a batch ED process using affordable electrodes like graphite and stainless steel 316L, analyzing the impact of key parameters on acid separation. Additionally, a multistage ED system was developed to concentrate sulfuric acid solutions up to 28 wt.%, revealing reduced energy consumption when integrated with evaporation. The findings include an empirical equation for predicting operational metrics and a cost analysis, highlighting the potential of ED as a viable alternative for acid recovery in industrial applications.