3.1. The results of the study of the physico-mechanical and transport-structural characteristics of anion exchange membranes
Table 1 presents the results of determining the exchange capacity, moisture content and swelling of anion exchange membranes in solutions of sodium chloride and succinic acid. Data analysis shows that homogeneous AHT and MA-1 membranes have the lowest exchange capacity compared to heterogeneous membranes MA-41 and Ralex AMH-Pes. Such differences are related to the specific composition and chemical structure of the polymers that make up the membranes.
The moisture content of the anion exchange membranes Ralex AMH Pes and MA-41 in the form of succinic acid is 2 times less than in the form of Cl –, and for the membrane AHT and MA-1 by 3.6 and 1.2 times, respectively. Firstly, this may be due to the fact that the chloride anion is more hydrated and has a larger effective radius compared to succinate anions. Secondly, larger succinate anions can displace water from the ion channels of membranes.
The change In the linear dimension” of ’nion-exchange membranes in a solution of sodium chloride is also greater than in a solution of succinic acid. At the same time, the length of anion-exchange membranes in both sodium chloride solution and succinic acid solution varies slightly within 5.68%, whereas the change in membrane thickness in both solutions is significant (9.94-23.25%).
Figure 4a shows the concentration dependences of the electrical conductivity of anion exchange membranes in sodium chloride solutions. Data on the specific electrical conductivity of anion-exchange membranes were processed within the framework of a microheterogenic model [
35],
Table 2. According to this model, the ion-exchange membrane is represented as two pseudophases: the gel phase (inert polymer, polymer chains, hydrated fixed groups) and the phase of the electron neutral solution (an equilibrium solution filling the pores of the membrane).
The obtained values of the parameters
f2 (the proportion of the equilibrium solution in the membrane phase) and
α (the mutual arrangement of the conductive and non-conductive phases) for the membranes MA-41 and Ralex AMH Res are in good agreement with the literature data [
39,
40]. The value of the
f2 parameter for the AHT membrane is 2 times lower than the corresponding parameter for heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes based on a polystyrene matrix and a MA-1 membrane (Table 2). This explains the low diffusion permeability of these membranes (Fig. 4b, curve 3), since the main diffusion transfer of the electrolyte molecule is carried out in pores filled with an electroneutral solution. According to the microheterogenic model, the closer the parameter α (responsible for the mutual arrangement of phases) is to 1, the higher the diffusion permeability of the ion exchange membrane at the same values of
f2 (if
α = 1, then the arrangement of phases is parallel, therefore, there are through pores in the membrane). The
α parameter of the Ralex AMH Res, MA-41 and AHT membranes is close to 0.3, while for the MA-1 membrane it is 0.51. The parameter
G, which characterizes the diffusion permeability of the gel phase of the membrane, was also evaluated. For the Ralex AMH Res membrane, the
G parameter has the highest value among the studied membranes and is 7.86×10
–15 m
5×mol
–1×s
–1. The
G parameter for the MA-1 membrane is also high and is 6.86×10
–15 m
5×mol
–1×s
–1. Thus, the high proportion of the inter-gel space in the structure, the highest value of the parameter
α and the high mobility of co-ions in the gel phase of the MA–1 membrane explains the high values of the integral coefficient of diffusion permeability of this membrane in NaCl solutions (2.3×10
–11 - 5.2×10
–11 m
2/s), Fig. 4 b curve 4.
The microheterogenic model makes it possible to describe and predict well the properties of ion-exchange membranes in solutions of strong electrolytes, but at the moment it cannot be applied to describe the characteristics of membranes in solutions of weak electrolytes, since the latter are capable of being in various forms depending on the pH in solution.
Figure 5a shows the results of measuring the specific electrical conductivity of ion-exchange membranes in succinic acid solutions at pH=4.8. Data analysis shows that in the region of very dilute succinic acid solutions (0-0.005 M), an increase in the specific electrical conductivity of heterogeneous Ralex AMH Res and MA-41 membranes (curves 1 and 2) is observed with a decrease in the concentration of the solution. Then the dependence of the electrical conductivity on the concentration increases linearly. The dependence of
ϰ on
С(С4Н6О4) for AHT membranes at concentrations from 0 to 0.015 M has a decreasing character and with a further increase in acid concentration, the value of electrical conductivity reaches a plateau. The electrical conductivity of the MA-1 membrane in succinic acid solutions increases at concentrations from 0.005 to 0.05 M with further access to the plateau, Fig. 5a, curve 4. As shown in the works, [
41,
42,
43] Having studied the electrical conductivity of ion-exchange membranes in solutions of ampholites and weak electrolytes, the electrical conductivity of ion-exchange membranes in these solutions depends not only on the pH of the external solution, but also on the pH of the solution inside the membrane itself. This difference in the pH of the solution inside the ion exchange membranes differs from the pH of the external solution, due to the Donnan exclusion of hydrogen cations from the phase of the anion exchange membrane or hydroxyl anions from the phase of the cation exchange membrane [
42,
44,
45,
46]. Moreover, with dilution of the external solution, there is an increase in the Donnan exclusion of co-ions from the membrane phase and an increase in the pH difference between the internal and external solutions. A change in the pH inside the membrane with a change in the concentration of the external solution leads to a shift in the ionic equilibrium between the forms of succinic acid (equations (1) and (2)) having different mobility, which leads to an atypical dependence of the electrical conductivity of anion-exchange membranes on the concentration,
Figure 5a.
When comparing the concentration dependence of the specific electrical conductivity of anion-exchange membranes in a solution of sodium chloride (Fig. 4 a) and succinic acid (Fig. 5 a), it can be seen that in solutions of a strong electrolyte, the value of ϰ decreases in a series: Ralex AMH Pes > AHT ≈ MA-1 > MA-41, whereas in solutions of a weak electrolyte this series looks like this: Ralex AMH Pes > MA-1 > MA-41> AHT. The electrical conductivity of the ion exchange membrane in solutions of strong electrolytes depends on the exchange capacity, parameters
f1, f2, α. The ratio of these parameters leads to the fact that in a solution of sodium chloride, the electrical conductivity of Ralex AMH Pes membranes has a maximum, MA-41 minimum, and AHT and MA-1 intermediate values, Fig. 4a. In solutions of weak electrolytes, the pH value inside the ion exchange membrane is also added to this set of parameters. The exchange capacity of the AHT and MA-1 membranes is lower than the exchange capacity of the Ralex AMH Pes and MA-41 membranes (
Table 1). The higher the exchange capacity of the anion exchange membrane, the stronger the Donnan exclusion of hydrogen cations from the membrane phase and, accordingly, the higher the pH value inside the membrane itself. An increase in pH leads to the formation of a double-charged succinic acid anion with greater mobility. This effect, as well as the ratio of the structural parameters of anion-exchange membranes balanced with succinic acid solution, can explain the course of the dependence of electrical conductivity on the concentration of the external solution.
The study of the diffusion permeability of ion-exchange membranes in succinic acid solutions at pH=4.8 showed the presence of properties of the studied ion-exchange membranes in these solutions, compared with the properties in strong electrolytes Fig. 4 b. The concentration dependence of the integral coefficient of diffusion permeability of anion-exchange membranes in succinic acid solution has a decreasing character. This is also explained by the pH shift inside the membrane to a more alkaline region when the external solution is diluted, while the equilibrium inside the membrane shifts towards the formation of a two-charge form.
With an increase in the proportion of double-charged ions in the membrane phase, an increase in electrostatic forces capable of attracting ions of the opposite charge sign occurs, thus, an increase in the concentration of co-ions in the membrane phase occurs. The scheme of transport of succinic acid forms in the pore of the anion-exchange membrane is shown in
Figure 6.
This leads to an increase in the rate of diffusion transfer of the succinic acid molecule with a decrease in its concentration in the working solution. Also, as shown in [
47] succinic acid is prone to dimerization in aqueous solutions. Moreover, with increasing concentration, the proportion of dimers in the external solution and in the solution enclosed inside the membrane increases. This effect, along with a decrease in the proportion of the double-charged form of acid, can also lead to a decrease in the transfer of succinic acid through the ion-exchange membrane with an increase in its concentration. The authors of the work established similar effects of reducing the transfer of weak electrolyte through the ion exchange membrane with an increase in its concentration in the studied solution due to the formation of associates using the example of phenylalanine [
48].
The values of the diffusion permeability coefficients of the Ralex AMH Res and MA-41 anion exchange membranes have similar values in a weak electrolyte solution from 7.5∙10 –11 to 1.8∙10–11 m2/s, depending on the concentration of the solution under study. Currently, there are no model representations that would allow us to describe the structure of ion-exchange membranes in solutions of weak electrolytes. The close value of the Pm parameter for Ralex AMH Pes and MA-41 membranes can be explained by several factors. Firstly, by such a ratio of the values of the structural parameters of these membranes in succinic acid solution, which ensure the same permeability (the mutual location of the sites of conductive and non-conductive phases, the presence of through pores, the proportion of the equilibrium solution inside the membranes). In addition, the exchange capacity of the MA-41 membrane is 30% lower than that of the Ralex AMH Pes membranes, therefore, the pH and ionic composition inside these membranes will differ. Also, a different value of the exchange capacity will lead to different motility of the co-ions in the gel phase. Thus, the close value of the integral coefficients of diffusion permeability of Ralex AMH Pes and MA-41 membranes can be explained by a combination of various factors. For homogeneous anion-exchange membranes, the values of the integral coefficient of diffusion permeability in succinic acid solutions are lower compared to the heterogeneous membranes studied in this work (2.5-1.7 times for the AHT membrane and 10.5-7.8 times for the MA-41 membrane). The low diffusion permeability makes the use of these membranes promising in the processes of electrodialysis processing of solutions containing succinic acid and other organic acids.
3.2. The results of the study of the volt-ampere characteristics of anion exchange membranes and electromass transfer in solutions of sodium succinate
Figure 7 shows CVCs of AHT and MA-1 anion-exchange membranes in succinic acid solution.
The form of the current-voltage curves obtained in the solution of a weak electrolyte salt differs from the usual form known for the solution of a strong electrolyte. On the classical current-voltage curve of an ion-exchange membrane, as a rule, three sections corresponding to different dominant ion transport mechanisms are easily distinguished. The first section of the CVC is traditionally called "ohmic". It corresponds to the underlimiting current mode of ion transfer, when ions are transferred from the solution volume to the membrane surface by an electrodiffusion mechanism. With the development of concentration polarization at the surface of the ion exchange membrane, from the depleted layer, the concentration of counterions tends to zero. The current density that corresponds to the onset of this state is called the maximum. In this case, the limiting stage of ion mass transfer through the membrane is the transfer of ions by a diffusion mechanism from the volume of the solution to the surface of the membrane. Unlike electrode systems, in electromembrane systems, it is possible to increase the current density above the limiting value due to the development of the so-called conjugate effects of concentration polarization [
49]. The increase in current above the limit in this area can be explained by the manifestation of electroconvection or catalytic water-splitting.
In the case of the results obtained in the solution of succinic acid salt, we see a nonlinear behaviour of the system starting from the smallest currents. Increasing of the potential drop leads to current increase in the whole investigated range. The conditional transition to the overlimiting state can be determined by the change in the slope of the curve, but this method is not precise enough.
Such behaviour of the studied homogeneous membranes can be explained by a large number of conjugated processes at the membrane/solution interface, as well as in the membrane volume itself. Such mechanisms include a possible change in the form of succinate ion from a single-charged to a double-charged one when it enters the membrane, causing a conjugate flux of hydrogen ions directed towards the solution [
50]; such transformations cause a rearrangement of concentration profiles inside the membrane and, as a consequence, a change in its electrical conductivity.
When the potential drop reaches 3 V or more, an increase in the current growth rate is observed for the MA-1 membrane. Analysis of the dependence of the total flux of succinic acid particles also shows an increase in the flux compared to the AHT membrane (
Figure 8).
It is known from previous studies of the electrochemical properties of the MA-1 membrane in solutions of strong electrolytes that this membrane is characterised by a rather short plateau of the limiting current and a rapid transition to the overlimiting state with development of a non-equilibrium electroconvection [
51,
52]. This allow to facilitate the delivery of a substance from the depth of the solution to the membrane surface. For the AHT membrane, this mechanism is less pronounced, and as a result, the dependence of succinate ion flux on the potential jump is almost linear in the whole range of current densities studied.
The analysis of Fig. 7 and 8 shows that at the same current density, the mass transfer of succinic acid using the MA-1 membrane proceeds more intensively than when using the AHT membrane. The low diffusion permeability and high electromass transfer of succinic acid make the MA-1 membrane promising for use in the processes of electromembrane production of succinic acid from fermentation mixtures.