Generating sustainable cement material from seawater with low-cost ultrafiltration (UF) membrane electrolysis

Chen, Q; Choo, Y; Akther, N; Shon, HK; Naidu, G

Generating sustainable cement material from seawater with low-cost ultrafiltration (UF) membrane electrolysis

Chen, Q Choo, Y

Akther, N

Shon, HK Naidu, G

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 494
Issue Date:: 2024-08-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chen, Q
dc.contributor.author	Choo, Y https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2715-0618
dc.contributor.author	Akther, N https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8706-9542
dc.contributor.author	Shon, HK
dc.contributor.author	Naidu, G
dc.date.accessioned	2024-07-23T02:04:59Z
dc.date.available	2024-07-23T02:04:59Z
dc.date.issued	2024-08-15
dc.identifier.citation	Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 494
dc.identifier.issn	1385-8947
dc.identifier.issn	1873-3212
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179816
dc.description.abstract	Membrane electrolysis offers a promising avenue for in-situ generation of hydroxide ions (OH−), facilitating the recovery of magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) ions from seawater as alkaline earth hydroxide precipitates. This process paves the way for an alternative greener method in the production of raw materials for cement manufacturing compared to limestone mining. Despite its potential, the application of conventional ion migration membranes, such as anion exchange membrane (AEM) and cation exchange membrane (CEM), is hampered by their high cost and low mechanical quality, posing significant barriers to industrial scalability. In this work, we introduce the utilization of commercially available high mechanical strength ultrafiltration (UF) membrane within a two-chamber electrochemical system, repurposing it as an ion migration membrane due to its distinct advantages in terms of simplicity and relative cost-efficiency than conventional AEM. This research demonstrates that the UF membrane exhibited a comparable performance to AEM in terms of OH− production. Both membranes achieved 97–99 % removal of Mg2+ and Ca2+ within 3 h at a current density of 8 mA/cm2 and maintained comparable migration rate of SO42− ion. Compared to AEM, a notable distinction of the UF membrane is its reduced migration rate of Cl− ions, resulting in lower membrane discoloration/oxidation. Furthermore, the investigation reveals that utilizing a Na2SO4 solution as an alternative anolyte, despite being slower for OH− production, offers economic advantages and facilitates higher selective recovery of Mg2+ over Ca2+. The end products of this process, MgO and CaO, are viable raw materials for cement production, underscoring a sustainable and low carbon approach compared to conventional limestone mining of cement production.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE200100661
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP230100238
dc.relation.ispartof	Chemical Engineering Journal
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.cej.2024.153007
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject	0904 Chemical Engineering, 0905 Civil Engineering, 0907 Environmental Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Chemical Engineering
dc.subject.classification	4004 Chemical engineering
dc.subject.classification	4011 Environmental engineering
dc.subject.classification	4016 Materials engineering
dc.title	Generating sustainable cement material from seawater with low-cost ultrafiltration (UF) membrane electrolysis
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	494
utslib.for	0904 Chemical Engineering
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	0907 Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	recently_added	*
dc.date.updated	2024-07-23T02:04:52Z
pubs.publication-status	Accepted
pubs.volume	494

Abstract:

Membrane electrolysis offers a promising avenue for in-situ generation of hydroxide ions (OH−), facilitating the recovery of magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) ions from seawater as alkaline earth hydroxide precipitates. This process paves the way for an alternative greener method in the production of raw materials for cement manufacturing compared to limestone mining. Despite its potential, the application of conventional ion migration membranes, such as anion exchange membrane (AEM) and cation exchange membrane (CEM), is hampered by their high cost and low mechanical quality, posing significant barriers to industrial scalability. In this work, we introduce the utilization of commercially available high mechanical strength ultrafiltration (UF) membrane within a two-chamber electrochemical system, repurposing it as an ion migration membrane due to its distinct advantages in terms of simplicity and relative cost-efficiency than conventional AEM. This research demonstrates that the UF membrane exhibited a comparable performance to AEM in terms of OH− production. Both membranes achieved 97–99 % removal of Mg2+ and Ca2+ within 3 h at a current density of 8 mA/cm2 and maintained comparable migration rate of SO42− ion. Compared to AEM, a notable distinction of the UF membrane is its reduced migration rate of Cl− ions, resulting in lower membrane discoloration/oxidation. Furthermore, the investigation reveals that utilizing a Na2SO4 solution as an alternative anolyte, despite being slower for OH− production, offers economic advantages and facilitates higher selective recovery of Mg2+ over Ca2+. The end products of this process, MgO and CaO, are viable raw materials for cement production, underscoring a sustainable and low carbon approach compared to conventional limestone mining of cement production.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179816