Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.46, No.1, 85-101, 2016
Numerical investigation of combined chemical and electrochemical processes in Fe2O3 suspension electrolysis
Suspension electrolysis is a combined process of chemical and electrochemical reactions. The developed model for a parallel-plate electrochemical reactor is based on mixture model for suspension flow and balance equation for diluted species taking into account the dispersed phase content and ions migration due to the electrolyte current and partial dissolution of suspended particles in the suspension electrolysis. Electrochemical reactions are specified through flux boundary conditions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The influence of the combined processes is reflected through the distribution of ions concentration profile in liquid phase and current density profile at the electrode surface. Numerical investigation indicates that about 90 % of the iron deposition flux is accommodated by an additional component flux due to the chemical reaction of partial dissolution of alpha-Fe2O3 particles in suspension electrolysis.