Mathematical modeling of the influence of non-catalytic dissociation / recombination of water molecules in the desalination channel on electric convection

Abstract

Abstract The article formulates a two-dimensional mathematical model of non-stationary transport of 1: 1 electrolyte in a potentiodynamic mode, taking into account electroconvection and non-catalytic dissociation / recombination reaction of water molecules in electromembrane systems, which are considered as the desalting channel of an electrodialysis device. The model is described by a system of coupled Navier-Stokes and Nernst-Planck-Poisson equations taking into account the electric force and physically justified boundary conditions. The article establishes the basic laws of mass transport, taking into account the dissociation / recombination of water molecules. It was shown for the first time that a double electric layer of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions arises in the recombination region. It is shown that between the region of recombination and quasi-equilibrium regions of space charge there are regions of electroneutrality and equilibrium with an almost linear distribution of concentrations. It was found that even under prelimiting, but close enough to the limiting current, modes, non-catalytic dissociation of water molecules in the quasi-equilibrium region of space charge occurs so intensely that the concentration of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions becomes comparable to the concentration of potassium and chlorine ions. At overlimiting current densities, due to the appearance of an extended space charge region and intense dissociation of water molecules in this region, as well as an increase in the electric double layer in the recombination region, the space charge and the dissociation / recombination reaction of water molecules significantly affect each other. In turn, this has a decisive effect on electroconvection and, accordingly, on the transport of salt ions.