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ALESSANDRO TAMBURINI

A simulation tool for ion exchange membrane crystallization of magnesium hydroxide from waste brine

  • Authors: F. Vassallo, C.Morgante, G. Battaglia, D. La Corte, M. Micari, A. Cipollina, A. Tamburini, G. Micale
  • Publication year: 2021
  • Type: Articolo in rivista
  • OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/515566

Abstract

Increasing attention is nowadays paid to the management and valorisation of industrial waste brines aiming also at the recovery of raw materials. Magnesium has been listed as a Critical Raw Material by EU, prompting researchers to investigate novel routes for its recovery. Within this framework, a novel Crystallizer with Ion Exchange Membrane (CrIEM), is proposed as an innovative way to recover magnesium from industrial waste brines exploiting low-cost alkaline reactants. In the present work, a novel mathematical model of the CrIEM process is proposed to provide a useful tool for its design in different working conditions. Batch and feed & bleed continuous configurations have been investigated taking into account: (i) the variation of the alkaline and brine concentration in their own collection tanks over time and (ii) the spatial mono-dimensional (1D) steady-state description of the main phenomena that occur inside the CrIEM. Original experimental data, from ad-hoc laboratory tests, and literature information were used to validate the proposed model both in the batch and continuous feed & bleed configuration. A good agreement between model predictions and experimental/literature data was found for both cases, thus proving the reliability of the proposed model for the design of the CrIEM reactor.