Externet Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 Hi. Electrolysis on salty water accumulates dissolved ions at the electrodes, as far as I know. After all the ions have attached/combined/bubbled/removed at the electrodes, what happens ? Is the water still 'conductive' ? Is there a precise voltage that does NOT dissociate H2 and O2 and leave the water unchanged and only remove the dissolved salt ions ? Or, how can the electrolytic process/electrodes be tailored to remove only ions and leave reasonably pure water ? Miguel
gonelli Posted November 24, 2009 Posted November 24, 2009 Is there a precise voltage that does NOT dissociate H2 and O2 and leave the water unchanged and only remove the dissolved salt ions ?Miguel If you apply a voltage that is less than around 2.60 V then theoretically you shouldn't get H2 or O2 being produced at the electrodes. But I'm not sure about what will happen with the movement of the ions.
hermanntrude Posted November 24, 2009 Posted November 24, 2009 Hi. Electrolysis on salty water accumulates dissolved ions at the electrodes, as far as I know. After all the ions have attached/combined/bubbled/removed at the electrodes, what happens ? Is the water still 'conductive' ? Is there a precise voltage that does NOT dissociate H2 and O2 and leave the water unchanged and only remove the dissolved salt ions ? Or, how can the electrolytic process/electrodes be tailored to remove only ions and leave reasonably pure water ? Miguel nope. Doesn't work like that. Gonelli, you'll always get hydrogen but you might get chlorine instead of oxygen or mixed with it, depending on the concentration of chloride ions and the voltage used. You will NEVER get sodium this way. link: http://www.scienceforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40177
Mr Skeptic Posted November 24, 2009 Posted November 24, 2009 What they do to get sodium and chlorine is conduct electrolysis on melted salt (which is very hot if you were wondering).
Externet Posted November 24, 2009 Author Posted November 24, 2009 Zero interest in this thread for sodium. Just wondering if any electrical method is applicable for desalination instead of evaporation/osmosis
Mr Skeptic Posted November 24, 2009 Posted November 24, 2009 Using electrolysis for desalination (it it were possible) would be less efficient than removing the impurities without splitting them nor the water apart.
John Cuthber Posted November 24, 2009 Posted November 24, 2009 It's possible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodialysis
Externet Posted November 25, 2009 Author Posted November 25, 2009 (edited) Nice !. Thanks, John. The 'Applications' paragraph in your link shows "Large scale brackish and seawater desalination and salt production" If the membranes could be made at low cost -not medical grade$- and not as expensive as reverse osmosis membranes; seawater could have some better drip irrigation potential. Am assuming high pressures would not be needed Now, what do they consist of ? Any hyperfancy material$ ? Google is showing results for "electrodialysis desalination" ... time to read. But I know no german: http://www.pca-gmbh.com/appli/ed.htm Edited November 25, 2009 by Externet
virushacker Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) actually you can get sodium through this way but it will quickly react with the water and produce hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide Edited January 5, 2010 by virushacker
John Cuthber Posted January 5, 2010 Posted January 5, 2010 actually you can get sodium through this way but it will quickly react with the water and produce hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide Actually, you can't.
Externet Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 Very old thread, resurrected as I found something pertinent claiming an electronic method for desalination. - The use of the term "mediated" -what does it mean ? - If works in such small scale, what could prevent from making bigger ones instead of paralleling many tiny ones ? ----> http://www.ideaconnection.com/new-inventions/waterchip-provides-cheap-effective-desalination-08434.html
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now