Effect of Pore-Size Distribution on Metal Ion Removal in Flow- Through Porous Electrodes

The effect of pore-size distribution in flow-through porous electrode is investigated theoretically for uniform, log-normal, and bimodal pore-size distributions. Mass transfer within the pores and subsequent electrode kinetics are taken into account and side reactions are allowed. The analysis is applied to metal ion removal (silver and copper) in a flow-through porous electrode. Pore-size distribution is important when the operation is fully or partially mass-transfer limited and the counterelectrode is located upstream. Uniform pore-size distribution gives the lowest outlet concentration. F low-through porous electrodes are widely used in electrochemistry, especially in cases where the reactants are at low concentrat ions and a large specific area is needed. These electrodes are finding applications in trace metal ions removal processes and flow batteries, such as the zinc-chlorine battery and redox batteries. Mathematical model ing and design methods are highly desirable because of the complexity of flow-through po