Electrochemical engineering

Electrochemical engineering is the branch of engineering dealing with the technological applications of electrochemical phenomena, such as synthesis of chemicals, electrowinning and refining of metals, batteries and fuel cells, sensors, surface modification by electrodeposition and etching, separations, and corrosion. It is an overlap between electrochemistry and chemical engineering. One of the pioneers of this field of engineering was Charles Frederick Burgess.

More than 6% of the electrical energy is consumed by electrochemical operations in the USA.^[1]

History

This branch of engineering emerged gradually from chemical engineering. The works of Wagner (1962) and Levich (1962) influenced the emergence of electrochemical engineering, because their work inspired so many others. Several individuals, including Tobias, Ibl, and Hine, established engineering training centers and, with their colleagues, developed important experimental and theoretical methods of study.

Scope

Electrochemical engineering combines the study of heterogeneous charge transfer at electrode/electrolyte interphases with the development of practical materials and processes. Fundamental considerations include electrode materials and the kinetics of redox species. The development of the technology involves the study of the electrochemical reactors, their potential and current distribution, mass transport conditions, hydrodynamics, geometry and components as well as the quantification of its overall performance in terms of reaction yield, conversion efficiency, and energy efficiency. Industrial developments require further reactor and process design, fabrication methods, testing and product development.

Applications

Electrochemical engineering finds applications in chemical synthesis, ion/organics removal, deposition of fils of metals and semiconductors, sensors and monitoring and energy storage and conversion.

See also

• Photoelectrochemistry
• Magnetoelectrochemistry
• Electrochemical energy conversion
• Chemotronics
• Bioelectronics
• Electrochemical cell
• Galvanic cell
• Isotope electrochemistry
• Fuel cell
• Flow battery
• Chloralkali process
• Electrodialysis
• Electrofiltration
• Electrodeionization

Bibliography

• H. Wright (Ed.), Electrochemical Engineering: Emerging Technologies and Applications, Willford Press, 2016.
• D. Stolten, B. Emonts, Fuel Cell Science and Engineering: Materials, Processes, Systems and Technology, John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
• D.D. Macdonald, P. Schmuki (Eds.), Electrochemical Engineering, in Encyclopedia of Electrochemistry, Vol. 5, Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2007.
• J. Newman, K.E. Thomas-Alyea, Electrochemical Systems, 3rd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004. (1st Ed. 1973).
• V.M. Schmidt, Elektrochemische Verfahrenstechnik, Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2003.
• H. Pütter, Industrial Electroorganic Chemistry, in Organic Electrochemistry, 4th Ed., H. Lund, O. Hammerich (Eds.), Marcel Dekker, New York, 2001.
• H. Wendt, G. Kreysa, Electrochemical Engineering: Science and Technology in Chemical and Other Industries, Springer, Berlin 1999.
• R.F. Savinell, Tutorials in Electrochemical Engineering - Mathematical Modeling, Pennington, The Electrochemical Society, 1999.
• A. Geoffrey, Electrochemical Engineering Principles, Prentice Hall, 1997.
• F. Goodrige, K. Scott Electrochemical Process Engineering - A Guide to the Design of Electrolytic Plant, Plenum Press, New York & London, 1995.
• F. Lapicque, A. Storck, A.A. Wragg, Electrochemical Engineering and Energy, Springer, 1994.
• F.C. Walsh, A First Course in Electrochemical Engineering, The Electrochemical Consultancy, Romsey UK, 1993. *
• F. Coeuret, A. Storck, Eléments de Génie Électrochimique, 2nd Ed., Éditions TEC et DOC / Lavoisier, Paris, 1993. (1st Ed. 1984)
• F. Coeuret, Introducción a la Ingeniería Electroquímica, Editorial Reverté, Barcelona, 1992.
• K. Scott, Electrochemical Reaction Engineering, Academic Press, London, 1991.
• G. Prentice, Electrochemical Engineering Principles, Prentice Hall, 1991.
• D. Pletcher, F.C. Walsh, Industrial Electrochemistry, 2nd Ed., Chapman and Hall, London, 1990.
• J.D. Genders, D. Pletcher, Electrosynthesis - From Laboratory, to Pilot, to Production, The Electrosynthesis Company, New York, 1990.
• M.I. Ismail, Electrochemical Reactors: Fundamentals, Electrolysers, Batteries, and Fuel Cells, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1989.
• T.R. Beck, Industrial Electrochemical Processes, in Techniques of Electrochemistry, E. Yeager, A.J. Salkind (Eds.), Wiley, New York, 1987.
• E. Heitz, G. Kreysa, Principles of Electrochemical Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, 1986.
• I. Roušar, A. Kimla, K. Micka, Electrochemical Engineering, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1986.
• T.Z. Fahidy, Principles of Electrochemical Reactor Analysis, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1985.
• F. Hine, Electrode Processes and Electrochemical Engineering, Springer, Boston, 1985.
• R.E. White, (Ed.), Electrochemical Cell Design, Springer, 1984.
• D.J. Pickett, Electrochemical Reactor Design, 2nd Ed., Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1979.
• P. Gallone, Trattato di Ingegneria Elettrochimica, Tamburini, Milan, 1973.
• A. Kuhn, Industrial Electrochemical Processes, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1971.
• C.L. Mantell, Electrochemical Engineering, 4th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1960.
• C.F. Burgess, H.B. Pulsifer, B.B. Freud, Applied Electrochemistry and Metallurgy, American Technical Society, Chicago, 1920.

External links

• Electrochemistry Encyclopedia
• Electrochemical Engineering Technology
• Technical electrochemistry
• European Symposium on Electrochemical Engineering

References