Treatment of ion exchange membranes to decrease divalent ion permeability

In the electrodialysis process for concentrating sea water, the addition of a small amount of the polycationic reagent Nonisold into the sea water feed results in a reduction of divalent cation permeability relative to that of monovalent cations. This is due to the formation of a reagent layer on the surface of the cation-exchange membrane. Divalent cations require greater energy to pass over the potential barrier at the reagent layer than do monovalent cations. The relationship between the height of the potential barrier and the ratio of ionic fluxes or the permselectivity coefficient is deduced on the basis of a kinetic-controlled mechanism of uptake of ions from the solution, and the height of the potential barrier is estimated from the experimental results. The difference between the potential barrier for divalent cations and that for monovalent cations may reach up to about 10 kJ/mol.