Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis for Food-Grade Acid & Alkali

Since 2024, Lanran Tech’s self-developed Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis (BMED) system has been successfully operating in a leading food-grade production facility. This innovation cleanly and efficiently converts food-grade sodium chloride (NaCl) into high-purity hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Therefore, this milestone not only marks the technology’s successful industrial application in the food sector but also underscores its vital role in advancing green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing.

Our BMED system processes 7,000 tons of food-grade NaCl annually, generating 4,786 tons of NaOH (100%) and 14,550 tons of 30% HCl. Moreover, it delivers long-term stability, low power consumption, and continuous operation, thereby meeting the stringent demands of the food and pharmaceutical industries. Unlike traditional chlor-alkali electrolysis, our on-site BMED process significantly cuts power usage, transport costs, and carbon emissions, while guaranteeing a secure and consistent supply of food-grade acid and alkali.

The entire process adheres to strict food-grade safety standards through a fully automated sequence:

Brine Preparation: The system dissolves food-grade NaCl into a high-purity brine.
Ultrafiltration (UF): This step filters out suspended solids and impurities to stabilize feed quality.
Ion Exchange Resin: Next, the resin removes hardness ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) and trace metals, producing an ultra-pure brine.
Heat Exchanger: It maintains the optimal feed temperature before the BMED system.
BMED Conversion: Under an electric field, the bipolar membrane splits water into H⁺ and OH⁻ ions. These ions then react with Cl⁻ and Na⁺ from the brine, producing HCl and NaOH.
Automation & Control: Finally, the system automatically regulates concentration, temperature, and flow, while dedicated storage tanks collect the acid and base products.

We ensure full compliance with food-grade safety and hygiene standards by design:

Raw Materials: We use only food-grade NaCl.
Production: Our clean electrochemical process requires no chemical additives.
Final Products: We produce high-purity, food-grade HCl and NaOH suitable for direct use in food processing.
Thus, our approach eliminates contamination risks from conventional chemical synthesis, setting a new benchmark for green and safe acid-alkali production.

Our system delivers compelling advantages:

Energy Efficiency: It consumes less energy than thermal or electrolysis processes.
Sustainability: The process creates zero chemical waste and incorporates closed-loop water and brine reuse.
High Product Purity: It consistently yields acids and alkalis that meet food-grade standards.
Circular Economy: The system recycles concentrated by-products back into the salt preparation process.
According to customer feedback, the project achieves a full return on investment (ROI) within 15 months, demonstrating outstanding economic and environmental benefits.

In summary, Lanran’s BMED technology provides a clean, safe, and cost-effective solution for food-grade acid and alkali production. Beyond the food sector, it is driving sustainable innovation across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and fine chemicals. As a result, we are helping global partners achieve robust economic growth alongside meaningful carbon reduction.