Work

Energy Balancing of Electrochemical Alternatives to the Solvay Process

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Nowadays, soda (Na 2 CO 3 ) is predominantly produced via the conventional Solvay process, generating CO 2 emissions contributing to climate change and saline CaCl 2 waste streams that pose local environmental concerns. Electrochemical alternatives, such as chlor‐alkali electrolysis (CAE), have been explored for decades but still remain unused for large‐scale production of soda. Bipolar electrodialysis promises lower energy consumption than CAE while generating the valuable by‐product hydrochloric acid (HCl). This work provides mass and energy balances for electrochemical alternatives to the Solvay process. The results indicate a lower total energy requirement for the electrochemically based processes, whereas energy‐related costs remain comparable to the Solvay process.

Source: Chemie Ingenieur Technik

DOI: 10.1002/cite.70056

Authors: Tom Wenzel, Holger Kryk, Stefan Fogel, Sebastian Felix Reinecke

Institution: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Language: English

Topic: Membrane-based Ion Separation Techniques

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,030