Experimental Study on Two Anion Exchange Membranes in Electrosynthesis of Ammonium Persulfate

In order to improve current efficiency and reduce energy consumption in the electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate, electrolytic properties of the AMI-7001 anion exchange membrane (AMI-7001 membrane) and one quatemary ammonium HDJAM anion exchange membrane (HDJAM membrane) were investigated using a sintered platinized titanium anode and a Pb-Sb-Sn alloy cathode in a self-made electrolytic cell. The effect of the cell voltage, the electrolyte flow rate and the SO42− concentration in the catholyte on the current efficiency and the energy consumption were investigated. The results indicated that the HDJAM membrane could obtain current efficiency of 90.9% and energy consumption of 1034 kWh t−1 (energy consumption per ton of the ammonium persulfate generated) and the AMI-7001 could get current efficiency of 74.8% and energy consumption of 1570 kWh t−1 under the optimal operating conditions. The experimental results show that the HDJAM membrane can significantly improve the current efficiency and reduce the energy consumption compared with the AMI-7001 membrane and will has good value in popularization in the electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate, which expands the scope of the membrane in the electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate because the cation membranes are the main membranes investigated in the electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate.