Impact of pulsed electric field on membrane fouling susceptibility during electromembrane processes

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Electrodialysis (ED), an electrochemical separation process, uses an electric field as the driving force and charged membranes to perform the separation. Despite its strong potential of applications in food, environmental and biotechnology industries, one of the common problems of electromembrane processes is fouling of membranes. Numerous studies have been done on the identification of species causing fouling, but usually directed to anion-exchange membrane (AEM). However, in our works aiming the development of new food and nutraceutical applications of electromembrane processes, we have observed the fouling action of protein and/or mineral present in solution on bipolar and cation-exchange membranes (CEM). Recently, my team was the first to demonstrate the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) on protein fouling during conventional ED. The pulsed mode consists in applying a hashed current : a constant current density during a fixed time (Ton) followed by a pause duration (Toff). No work, except our preliminary work, aimed specifically the study of ED using PEF on protein fouling. Furthermore, at our knowledge, PEF has never been used during ED with bipolar membrane. The general objective of this research program is to determine the intrinsic conditions of a solution to predispose to the formation of a fouling on membrane used in electromembrane processes. More specifically, the objectives of the proposed research program are 1) to study the solution composition effect on membrane fouling formation, 2) to evaluate the impact of pulsed electric field on membrane fouling, 3) to study the fouling of ion-exchange membranes, 4) to study the kinetic migration of charged species during electromembrane processes and 5) to identify and characterize the fouling nature. This program will generate information innovative on an electrochemical point of view on membrane exchange and relevant for the scale-up of these processes. At last, the proposed research program will offer an exceptional opportunity for the vocational training of highly qualified staff in a competitive field where success chances are linked to multidisciplinary expertise and innovation capacity.