Electrochimica Acta 63 (2012) 47–54 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Electrochimica Acta jou rn al hom epa ge: www.elsevier.com/locate/electacta The FM01-LC reactor modeling using axial dispersion model with a reaction term coupled with a continuous stirred tank (CST) Martín Cruz-Díaz a,b , Fernando F. Rivera b,∗ , Eligio P. Rivero c , Ignacio González b a División de Química y Bioquímica, Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Ecatepec, Av. Tecnológico S/N, Esq. Av. Hank González, Valle de Anáhuac, C.P. 55120, Ecatepec, Edo de México, Mexico b Departamento de Química, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, San Rafael Atlixco186, C.P. 09340, México, D.F., Mexico c Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Departamento de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. 1o de Mayo Col. Sta. María las Torres C.P. 54740, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Edo. de México, Mexico a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Received 28 June 2011 Received in revised form 9 December 2011 Accepted 9 December 2011 Available online 17 December 2011 Keywords: FM01-LC reactor Dispersion-reaction model Non ideal flow pattern Concentration and potential distribution predictions a b s t r a c t This work is aimed at modeling the operation of the FM01-LC reactor coupled with a continuous stirred tank (CST) in recirculation mode. The parametric flow dispersion model with an electrochemical reaction limited by mass transfer coupled with Poisson (tertiary potential distribution) and CST equations are used to describe the performance of a FM01-LC reactor with 3D electrodes. Theoretical predictions for dispersion reaction coupled with CST showed a good agreement with the experimental data on depletion of electroactive species as a function of time and potential distribution, whereas these data have not been adequately described by the plug-flow model. Fluid dispersion obtained in the reaction zone (depending on the fluid flow velocities and geometric configuration), plays an important role in tertiary potential distribution. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The Filter Press electrochemical reactor (FM01-LC) has proven to be an effective design for use in fundamental studies of sev- eral electrochemical processes, such as electrosynthesis [1], water treatment [2] and energy storage process [3]. The FM01-LC perfor- mance is determined by: (a) electrocatalytic characteristics of the electrodes, (b) current and potential distributions and (c) hydro- dynamic characteristics of the liquid phase [4]. The hydrodynamic behavior pattern, liquid hold-up, and electro-active area are par- ticularly important for mass transport of the electroactive species from the liquid to the electrode surface, where the electrochemical reaction takes place. Adequate knowledge of the electrolyte flow behavior and mass transport characterization in FM01-LC is essential to determine the conversion, selectivity and potential distribution, when ideal flow deviations are present in the electrochemical reaction zone. In order to describe the liquid flow pattern behavior and FM01-LC reactor performance, great efforts have been made to predict the operation of this electrochemical reactor with different configura- tions (i.e. mass transport correlations, residence time distributions, and CFD simulations [4–6]). Despite the large amount of works ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +52 5558044600x2684. E-mail address: kompressormx@yahoo.com (F. Rivera). reported on FM01-LC performance, to our knowledge, the use of the non ideal flow pattern equations with an electrochemical reac- tion rate limited by mass transfer expressions coupled to Poisson (tertiary potential distribution) and CST equations has not been reported in the open literature to describe the performance of the FM01-LC reactor with 3D electrodes. On the other hand, the description of concentration profiles related to the variation in the electrode–electrolyte interface potential should be taken into account for reactor design. Furthermore, the potential variation could affect the selectivity and conversion mainly in solutions containing different electroac- tive species [7]. Some of the most important works related to the theoretical model for potential distribution description in a highly conductive flow-by porous electrode under diffusion regime were carried-out by Alkire and Ng [7] and Fedkiw [8] for a paral- lelepiped and cylindrical geometry, respectively. Based on these works, several authors have conducted theoretical studies on ter- tiary potential distribution description in 3D electrode geometries, assuming plug-flow within electrochemical reactor [9]. As is well known, in the case of FM01-LC reactor with expanded meshes used as electrodes, the ideal flow pattern deviations are present in most cases; in particular, these deviations are caused by entrance-exit manifold asymmetric designs, as is shown by Brown et al., Bengoa et al., and Rivera et al. [10–12]. On the other hand, the continuous operation with recirculation tank in electrochemical reactors is a common processing mode, and 0013-4686/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2011.12.038