hydrometallurgy ELSEVIER Hydrometallurgy 45 (1997) 137- 160 Recovery of spent acid by electrodialysis in the zinc hydrometallurgy industry: performance study of different cation-exchange membranes Mario Boucher a, Nancy Turcotte a, Virginie Guillemette b, Gaktan Lantagne b, * , Agnks Chapotot ‘, Gkald Pourcelly ‘, Roger Sandeaux ‘, Claude Gavach ’ a Centre National en Electrochimie et en Technologies Environnementules Inc. (CNETE), 2263, Avenue du Coll>ge, Shawinigun, Que. G9N 6V8, Cum& b Luhomtoire des Technologies Electrochimiques et des Electrotechnologies, (LTEE) d’Hydro-Qubhec. 600. Avenue de lu Montugne, Shuwinigun, QUIZ. G9N 7N5. Cunadu ’ Lahorotoire des Mutt?iuux et Procklks Membranuires (LMPM), UM 9987, CNRS, 1919, Route de Mende, B.P. 5051, 34033 Montpellier, Cklex I, France Received 30 November 1994; accepted 3 I August I996 Abstract A performance study of four different cation-exchange membranes was conducted on labora- tory and pilot scale (172 cm2/membrane, model CS-0 from Asahi Glass Co.) electrodialysis cells, using Neosepta CMS from Tokuyama Soda Co.; Morgane CRA from Solvay; Selemion CHV from Asahi Glass Co. and Nafion 117 from DuPont, coupled with a Morgane ARA 17-10 anion-exchange membrane. Comparisons were made of the sulphuric acid recovery rate, water transport, metal leakage and energy intake for these membranes. Proton permselectivity and metal leakage, co- and counter-ion transport numbers of the CMS membrane were investigated using Hittorf’s method and radiotracer methods. This study shows that electrodialysis is suitable for the treatment of zinc hydrometallurgy effluents. However, R&D work must still be done in order to improve and optimize the technology for its use in future industrial applications. In particular, research efforts must concentrate on the synthesis of affordable and stable cation-exchange membranes showing high selectivity towards protons. - Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 819 539 1400 Fax: + 1 819 539 1409. 0304-386X/97/$17.00 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII SO304-386X(96)00069-2