A study on fouling mitigation using pulsing electric fields in electrodialysis of lactate containing BSA

Fouling tendency in electrodialysis was investigated using the electrochemical and physical properties of the foulants and ion exchange membranes. It was found that bovine serum albumin (BSA), a large molecular weight protein, fouled the AMX membrane irreversibly by deposition on the membrane surface. Electrodialysis experiments of lactate with 1.0 wt% of BSA were performed using the square wave powers at different frequencies to examine the pulsing power influences as a fouling mitigation method, and the results were compared with the data obtained using the DC power. Reduced fouling potentials were observed when the square wave powers were used in the electrodialysis of lactate and confirmed the membrane fouling index for electrodialysis (EDMFI). The pulsing electric fields enhanced the mobility of the charged particles in the fouling layer and decreased the electric resistance of the electrodialysis cell. It was clearly observed that the pulsing electric fields with different frequencies reduced the fouling potentials, and consequently the power consumption was reduced significantly as a fouling mitigation method.