Electrochemical Separations for Sustainability

Abstract

This special issue of Interface comprises three articles that articulate the importance of electrochemical separations for sustainability. The articles emphasize electrochemical separations for industrial applications, such as gas purification (e.g., CO2 concentration, hydrogen purification, and ammonia compression), critical minerals refining, and nutrient and organic acid recovery. Electrochemical separations are a powerful tool for securing critical minerals and materials for the growing electrification of energy production and transmission while being more environmentally friendly (e.g., using renewable electrons and less solvent). For nutrient recovery, it is meaningful to capture and recycle phosphate from waste streams, as we are diminishing our phosphorus rock reserves. Plus, the energy intensive Haber-Bosch process contributes significantly to CO2 emissions. Recovering nitrate from wastewater and transforming nitrate back into ammonia can reduce the need for virgin ammonia from the Haber-Bosch process and the CO2 footprint for manufacturing fertilizers. Although water purification is an important sustainability topic in which electrochemical processes play an important role, water desalination by electrodialysis and other electrochemical platforms is not the focus of the articles in this issue due to the maturity of this technology.