Technology Summary
Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR) is a process consisting of an electric current relocating dissolved salt ions through cationic and anionic ion exchange membranes. EDR technology achieves high water recovery and by reversing the polarity of the applied electric current, the direction of ion flow is reversed, resulting in a self-cleaning membrane system ideal for treating impure wastewater. Unlike conventional membrane processes, the ions and not the water molecules are displaced across the membranes.
The main properties of EDR technology are:
• Use of carbon electrodes results in no gas produced and no separate electrode stream required.
• High water recovery, up to 94%
• Salt removal of 50 to 95%
• Polarity reversal self-cleaning with electricity
• Free chlorine tolerance compared to other membrane technologies
• Tolerance to moderate suspended solids
• Silica tolerance
• Adjustable product water performance without blending
• Ability to disassemble stacks for inspection
Technology Benefits
The main benefits of EDR technology are:
• Efficient use of scarce water resources
• Low pre-treatment requirements and costs
• Low chemical consumption costs
• Long membrane life, typically 10+ years
• Strong ability to recover from less than ideal feed water quality
• Recycling of municipal and industrial wastewater. EDR reduces the strain in water scarce areas by up to 94% due to the high water recovery
• EDR reduces problematic contaminants such as radium, arsenic, perchlorate, fluoride, nitrate, hardness and selenium in drinking water
• Handles high organic polluted water
• High silica levels do not impact performance or water recovery
• Low operating and maintenance costs due to long membrane life expectancy and no chemical feeds
Applications
Typical applications of EDR technology include:
• Food and beverage processing
• Agricultural water (e.g., water for greenhouses, irrigation, livestock)
• Large scale brackish and seawater desalination and salt production
• Mining industry
• Pharmaceutical industry
Video
Watch a video clip on our Electrodialysis Reversal technology:
