Apparatus and process for electrodialysis of salts

This electrodialysis apparatus can be used in a number of large scale process applications. Specifically, it may be used for the recovery of lactic acid from fermentation derived ammonium lactate in a two compartment cation cell. There may be either a nanofilter or an ion exchange column (or both) in communication with the base loop of the cation cell. The column contains a weak acid cation exchange resin. An apparatus and process produces salts by an electrodialysis operation. The basic electrodialysis apparatus is a cell having a number of compartments separated by membranes. A DC source is connected to drive a current through a feed stream passing through the cell which splits the salt stream into an acid and a base. The incoming feed may be nanofiltered to remove divalent metal. The base loop may be in communication with an ion exchange column packed with a material that removes multivalent cations. Depending upon the material being processed and the desired end result either or both the nanofiltration and the ion exchanged column may be used in the apparatus.