Isolation of ethylenediamine from industrial solution of ethylenediamine hydrochloride by electrodialysis

An industrial solution of ethylenediamine hydrochloride which contains about 18% chloride and 12% amine was electrodialysed in a five‐compartment cell to obtain pure ethylenediamine. Different parameters such as alkali concentration and current density were studied to optimise conditions of maximum current efficiency for amine recovery and chloride removal from the feed solution. The Suitabilities of different ion‐exchange membranes for electrodialysis were compared. Variation in current efficiency for amine recovery with increases in the concentration of amine during electrodialysis was also studied. Current efficiency for amine recovery and chloride removal is about 78% and 91% respectively under optimum conditions. The amount of electrical energy consumed is 12.1 kWh kg^?1 for ethylenediamine recovery and 8.6 kWh kg^?1 for chloride removal. The concentration of pure amine obtained after the electrodialysis was around 20%. The results are encouraging for industrial applications whereby ethylenediamines free from chlorides can be isolated. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry