Is it possible to generate sulfuric acid from sodium sulfate without special membranes or special processes?

[realflow100]

Now I'm wondering if instead there would be some reason that sodium bisulfate would form first before true sulfuric acid.
Essentially the concentration of sodium ions decrease over time gradually while the acidity increases. with an increase in the amount of hydrogen ions in the acidic compartment as well.
but I dont know if the conversion to sulfuric acid would happen yet or in stages. where 1/2 neutralization of sulfuric acid point has been reached (1 part sodium to 2 part sulfuric acid)?
 

I set up a more robust and more efficient version of the experiment. with a porous material sandwiched and sealed in between wide slots cut between two thin (rectangular shaped) containers to increase the surface area substantially and efficiency. in just a couple hours at 200mA current and about 3-4 volts. the acidic compartment reached as low as PH of 1. while the basic compartment reached closer to 13.5-14

Edited October 14 by realflow100

[John Cuthber]

"Is it possible to generate sulfuric acid from sodium sulfate without special membranes or special processes?"
Define "special".
Roast the sulphate with charcoal at high temperatures to reduce it to sulphide.
Dissolve that in water.
Set up some wine or beer making and lead the CO2 that it produces into the sodium sulphide solution.
That will form hydrogen sulphide.
Oxidise the hydrogen sulphide to sulphur dioxide by burning it in air.
Oxidise the sulphur dioxide either with air (as per the contact process) or with ozone, to get sulphur trioxide  and allow that to dissolve in water and you will have sulphuric acid.

Is any of those steps "special"?

[realflow100]

Yes they require high temperatures. charcoal. CO2. Sulphides. Dangerous gasses. which I could consider special processes requiring advanced equipment tools and additional compounds.

It is much simpler to do the electrochemical separation method I described. with a porous material draped over 2 containers. and an electrode inserted into each container with sodium sulfate with a current applied. No high temperatures. No dangerous gasses or fumes. No charcoal. No sulphides. Additionally you get sodium hydroxide to use. and you can always undo it by recombining and mixing the two solutions back into one and get back the sodium sulfate. its reversible.
The advanced version of the set up is just more efficient and robust and can produce a higher amount in shorter time.

Edited November 3 by realflow100

[realflow100]

On 11/21/2024 at 4:44 AM, Foconsci said:

Theoretically, it is possible. Using a clay pot to separate the electrolytic cell, sodium sulfate solution can indeed generate sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide through electrolysis. However, without a special membrane, the generated acid and alkali will easily neutralize each other, making it difficult to increase the concentration and the efficiency low. Simple experiments can be tried, but it is still a bit difficult to put into practical use.

if you look back in a previous post i made (page 1) I used a piece of folded over paper towel draped over a 2-compartment container with sodium sulfate solution in each compartment with the solution wicked up the paper towel. with an electrode in each one and it seemed to work. created ph down to 2 and it seemed to behave as expected. though I only ran it at low current for a few hours. the design seemed to work well to prevent them from mixing about as effective as a clay pot. but much simpler and smaller-scale. I imagine it could of ran for longer and a ph of 1 would of been reached.

Edited November 26 by realflow100

[exchemist]

11 hours ago, realflow100 said:

if you look back in a previous post i made (page 1) I used a piece of folded over paper towel draped over a 2-compartment container with sodium sulfate solution in each compartment with the solution wicked up the paper towel. with an electrode in each one and it seemed to work. created ph down to 2 and it seemed to behave as expected. though I only ran it at low current for a few hours. the design seemed to work well to prevent them from mixing about as effective as a clay pot. but much simpler and smaller-scale. I imagine it could of ran for longer and a ph of 1 would of been reached.

A classic salt bridge, in fact. 

[realflow100]

On 11/26/2024 at 6:57 AM, exchemist said:

A classic salt bridge, in fact. 

yes apparently all you need is a simple salt bridge. not what I expected.

Edited November 28 by realflow100