ABSTRACT
There are many separation processes either driven by electric fields or dependent on the electrical properties of matter for their success. For example, electrodialysis, discussed in Chapter 9, depends on the ionic dissociation of molecules in solution to remove such molecules from liquids by the influence of direct current electrical fields. Another example is the separation of mixtures of solids by electrostatic separators. This is done by electrostatic charging the solids and then dropping them under freefall between oppositely charged electrodes. The electrostatic field of the electrodes deflects the solids, depending on their charge, into separate receiving bins. This technique was discussed in Chapter 4. A third example is ion exchange, which depends on the ability of molecules to ionize into positively and negatively charged ions. These ions are then removed from waste streams by replacing them with more desirable ions. Ion exchange will be discussed in Chapter 14.
