Electrochemical synthesis of chemicals and treatment of wastewater promoted by salinity gradients using reverse electrodialysis and assisted reverse electrodialysis

In the last years, an increasing attention has been devoted to the utilization of waters with different salt content to drive valuable redox processes at the electrodes by reverse electrodialysis processes (RED) or assisted RED (A-RED), thus allowing to significantly reduce the energetic costs associated to conventional electrolyses. In this review, the most relevant findings were presented and were critically discussed. The use of RED and A-RED for the synthesis of chemicals, the conversion of CO2, and the treatment of wastewater contaminated by organic and inorganic pollutants resistant to traditional biological processes was analyzed. The main advantages and disadvantages of these routes were commented, as well as the key points that should be addressed to favor the utilization on an applicative scale.