Reducing Chloride Ion Permeation during Seawater Electrolysis Using Double-Polyamide Thin-Film Composite Membranes

Low-cost polyamide thin-film composite membranes are being explored as alternatives to expensive cation exchange membranes for seawater electrolysis. However, transport of chloride from seawater to the anode chamber must be reduced to minimize the production of chlorine gas. A double-polyamide composite structure was created that reduced the level of chloride transport. Adding five polyamide layers on the back of a conventional polyamide composite membrane reduced the chloride ion transport by 53% and did not increase the applied voltage. Decreased chloride permeation was attributed to enhanced electrostatic and steric repulsion created by the new polyamide layers. Charge was balanced through increased sodium ion transport (52%) from the anolyte to the catholyte rather than through a change in the transport of protons and hydroxides. As a result, the Nernstian loss arising from the pH difference between the anolyte and catholyte remained relatively constant during electrolysis despite membrane modifications. This lack of a change in pH showed that transport of protons and hydroxides during electrolysis was independent of salt ion transport. Therefore, only sodium ion transport could compensate for the reduction of chloride flux to maintain the set current. Overall, these results prove the feasibility of using a double-polyamide structure to control chloride permeation during seawater electrolysis without sacrificing energy consumption.

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Work Title Reducing Chloride Ion Permeation during Seawater Electrolysis Using Double-Polyamide Thin-Film Composite Membranes
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Xuechen Zhou
  2. Rachel F. Taylor
  3. Le Shi
  4. Chenghan Xie
  5. Bin Bian
  6. Bruce E. Logan
Keyword
  1. Seawater electrolysis
  2. Hydrogen production
  3. Thin-film composite membrane
  4. Double-polyamide
  5. Chloride leakage
  6. Energy consumption
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Environmental Science & Technology
Publication Date December 26, 2023
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c07248
Deposited October 12, 2024

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added Reducing_Chloride_Ion_Permeation_using_double_TFC-accepted.pdf
  • Added Creator Xuechen Zhou
  • Added Creator Rachel F. Taylor
  • Added Creator Le Shi
  • Added Creator Chenghan Xie
  • Added Creator Bin Bian
  • Added Creator Bruce E. Logan
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Seawater electrolysis, Hydrogen production, Thin-film composite membrane, Double-polyamide, Chloride leakage, Energy consumption
    Publication Date
    • 2024-01-09
    • 2023-12-26