Electrodialysis method

Claim 1

A permeation separation process comprising providing an enclosure, a plurality of ion-selective membranes disposed in spaced relation to define a plurality of permeation cells within said enclosure wherein first and second ones of said membranes are anion-selective and are disposed in side-by-side relation to define a first one of said cells, and third and fourth ones of said membranes being cationselective membranes each disposed adjacent one of said first and second membranes and on the opposite sides thereof to define second and third cells adjacent said first cell, and an anode disposed on the side of said membranes most proximate to said third cell and a cathode on the side of said membranes most proximate to said second cell, passing a whey solution including lactate anions and hydrogen cations into said first cell, a basic solution containing metallic cations and hydroxyl anions into said second cell, and a carrier solution into said third cell, applying an electric field across said cells and between the anode and cathode, passing lactate anions through said first membrane and from said first cell into said third cell, passing hydroxyl anions from said second cell into said first cell for combination with the hydrogen cations therein to form water whereby the ionic concentration of said first cell is decreased, withdrawing from said first cell a whey solution having an acid concentration less than that of said first solution, withdrawing from said second cell a basic solution which is less concentrated than that passed into said cell and substantially uncontaminated by said lactate anions, and withdrawing from said third cell the lactate anions along with said carrier solution.