A theoretical analysis of the extraction of heterocyclic organic compounds from an organic phase using chemically mediated electrochemically modulated complexation in ion exchange polymer beads

Abstract

A cyclical electrochemical process for the removal of heterocyclic organic compounds (pollutants) from an organic solvent using an ion-exchange polymer is analyzed. In this analysis, there are three main steps: In the first step, the polymer beads containing the active form of the complexing agent are contacted with the contaminated (feed) hydrocarbon phase. The pollutant diffuses into the beads and binds with the complexing agent which is in the reduced state. It is a fast reversible reaction. For the second step, the beads which contain a pollutant are contacted with a waste (receiving) phase and a chemical mediator is then used to oxidize the complexing agent and to reduce its affinity towards the pollutant so that it can be released. The oxidation of the complexing agent is an irreversible reaction. This is a moving boundary problem with countercurrent diffusion. For each mole of mediator that goes into the bead, one mole of pollutant exits since each complexing agent binds one pollutant. In the third step, the waste hydrocarbon phase is removed and a second chemical mediator is then used to reduce the complexing agent. The reduction of the complexing agent is also an irreversible reaction. Partial differential equations are usedmore » to analyze this process. 26 refs., 9 figs.« less