GAS BUBBLE FORMATION OPTIMISATION IN ELECTROLYSIS OF GREEN LIQUOR

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to replace the conventional method of producing Caustic in the paper industry with a more sustainable and highly efficient method of producing Caustic. The traditional method used to produce Caustic involves a Causticizing Reaction i.e. reaction of Green liquor with milk of lime to produce Caustic. The method thus generates lots and lots of Solid Waste in the form of Contaminated Calcium Carbonate. This Calcium Carbonate cant be reused as it is highly contaminated and the recovery of it is also not highly economically feasible.

The main objective behind the study is to generate Caustic with a more Green Technology i.e. Membrane Electrolysis as it is a direct process. The other objective is how to increase its recovery and optimize the input and performance parameters behind the formation of Caustic. The Problem is also the Generation of Gases like Hydrogen and Oxygen which are generated in the system and when these interact with the solutions they tend to form Gas bubbles. These Gas bubbles thus formed coalesce with each other to form films and these films adhere to the surface of electrodes thus increasing the resistance and increasing the Ohmic losses. As a result, the Current efficiency lowers, and the Energy Consumption increase. Thus the main objective of the study is to optimize this Gas Bubble formation in these Electrolysis Processes such as the Current efficiency is Maximum and the Energy Consumption is minimum.