Physical Transformation AtlasPTA
Phenomenon · phenomenon:reverse-electrodialysis

Reverse electrodialysis

Alternating cation- and anion-selective membranes between salt and fresh water let each ion species cross in one direction only, so the mixing free energy appears as a voltage across the stack.

Electrochemistryfirst reported 1954also: RED, salinity-gradient power, osmotic power

Atlas record: 6 claims reference this phenomenon — 5 established and 1 demonstrated.

Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite

conditions: aqueous medium required · selective membrane required
6claims1enumerated routes1routes with complete-composition evidence0candidate routes not searched3cited sources

Relations

drives · 1
Salinity gradient—drives→Reverse electrodialysisestablished
  • alternating cation- and anion-exchange membranes with sea and river water in alternate compartments
produces · 1
Reverse electrodialysis—produces→Ionic currentestablished
member of · 1
Reverse electrodialysis—member of→Osmotic / salinity-gradientestablished
implemented by · 1
Reverse electrodialysis—implemented by→Reverse electrodialysis stackdemonstrated
bounded by · 1
Reverse electrodialysis—bounded by→Free energy of mixingestablished
requires · 1
Reverse electrodialysis—requires→Ion-exchange membraneestablished

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.04 × C.22 · Salinity gradient × Osmotic / salinity-gradient · Established
family: Osmotic / salinity-gradient (C.22)

Enumerated routes through this · 1

Cited sources · 3

  1. [1]
    J. W. Post, et al.. Salinity-gradient power: Evaluation of pressure-retarded osmosis and reverse electrodialysis (2007)
    Journal of Membrane Science 288, 218–230 · doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2006.11.018 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
  2. [2]
    B. E. Logan, M. Elimelech. Membrane-based processes for sustainable power generation using water (2012)
    Nature 488, 313–319 · doi:10.1038/nature11477 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
  3. [3]
    R. E. Pattle. Production of electric power by mixing fresh and salt water in the hydroelectric pile (1954)
    Nature 174, 660 · doi:10.1038/174660a0 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Cite this entity

Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). entity phenomenon:reverse-electrodialysis: Reverse electrodialysis. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/phenomenon/reverse-electrodialysis

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