Note: The role of external electric fields in enhancing ion mobility, drift velocity, and drift-diffusion rates in aqueous electrolyte solutions [J. Chem. Phys. 134, 114504 (2011)

Abstract

The effect of external electric fields on enhancing ion mobility, drift velocity, and drift diffusion as a function of solution concentration has been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show that the unusual nonlinear behavior observed when the solution concentration matches seawater is also observed when the concentration is reduced to half of that value. These results are of significance in designing processes for desalinating seawater using electro-deionization in which the concentration would decrease during salt removal, and for purification of brackish waters which also have lower salt content.