Evonik is conducting research into making electrodialysis usable on an industrial scale for the green transformation of the chemical industry. The scientists hope to gain better access to important raw materials on a closed-loop basis. With the help of electrodialysis, salts that are produced in many chemical processes can be separated and converted back into their starting materials. Evonik is currently expanding its electrochemical activities. Over the next five years, the company plans to spend a low double-digit million euro amount on the Electrochemical Processes & Products platform. Around 20 employees are conducting research in this field in Hanau and Shanghai, China.
Recovering raw materials pays off
Patrik Stenner, Evonik expert for electrochemical processes and products: "We estimate that we could make around twenty percent of our processes more efficient and environmentally friendly with the help of electrodialysis alone." This is associated with lower energy consumption and use of raw materials as well as lower CO2 emissions and less environmental pollution, for example from salt loads. Stenner also sees the economic benefits: "Depending on the price of raw materials and electricity, recovering the raw materials from the salt loads pays off."
No off-the-shelf systems
Electrodialysis has already been used in the food industry for around 20 years to adjust the acidity of juice or wine. "The challenge for us is the large-scale implementation of electrodialysis," explains Stenner, who is Group Leader in Process Engineering. "We are still a long way from a standard process in the chemical industry. There are still no off-the-shelf systems," says Stenner. The technology has to be adapted to the respective application and the substance to be separated. The process engineer describes the membrane itself and its service life as a further challenge.