Fouling mitigation in the repeated batch runs of electrodialysis with humate foulant

Since membrane fouling is one of the important considerations in electrodialysis, many approaches have been considered in order to minimize fouling of the process. In this study, square wave powers having pulsing effects were employed to investigate the effects of the frequencies on the fouling mitigation during fouling experiments of humate, forming a loosely packed fouling layer on the anion exchange membrane surface. It was shown that a pulsing electric field with determined optimal frequency reduced the fouling potential of an already fouled system in repeated batch runs at a significant level. It was suggested through electrodialysis experiments of humate that the pulsation of the electric field affected the electromigration of the charged particles deposited in the fouling layer, thus decreasing fouling potentials.