Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing contaminants (i.e., radionuclides and metals) from a water source by applying an oxidatively modified carbon to the water source. This leads to the sorption of the contaminants in the water source to the oxidatively modified carbon. In some embodiments, the methods also include a step of separating the oxidatively modified carbon from the water source after the applying step. In some embodiments, the oxidatively modified carbon comprises an oxidized carbon source. In some embodiments, the carbon source is coal. In some embodiments, the oxidatively modified carbon comprises oxidized coke. In some embodiments, the oxidatively modified carbon is in the form of free-standing, three dimensional and porous particles. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to materials for capturing contaminants from a water source, where the materials comprise the aforementioned oxidatively modified carbons.

An electrode deionizer and method remove polarized molecules of an ionic cluster in a fluid. In another aspect, electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis forces are used between electrodes to move a polarized molecular cluster in an electric field, which are then trapped in an activated-carbon on an anode. A further aspect uses dielectrophoresis to reduce the size of polarized molecules of an ionic cluster in a fluid. Yet another aspect of the present apparatus and method employ RF power in addition to DC power.

A water treatment system is disclosed having electrolytic cell for liberating hydrogen from a base solution. The base solution may be a solution of brine for generating sodium hypochlorite, or potable water to be oxidized. The cell has first and second opposing electrode end plates held apart from each other by a pair of supports such that the supports enclose opposing sides of the end plates to form a cell chamber. One or more inner electrode plates are spaced apart from each other in the cell chamber in between the first and second electrode plates. The supports are configured to electrically isolate the first and second electrode plates and the inner electrode plates from each other. The first and second electrode plates are configured to receive opposite polarity charges that passively charge the inner electrode plates via conduction from the base solution to form a chemical reaction in the base solution as the base solution passes through the cell chamber.

A dielectrophoretic separator has a separator vessel having a fluid ingress at a first side and a fluid egress at a second side, an electrode electrically connected to a power source and contained within the vessel, along the central axis, a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods within the vessel positioned around and parallel to the electrode, wherein the electrode has a first polarity and the vessel has a second polarity such that an electromagnetic field is generated between the electrode and the vessel. A method of performing a separation cycle has the steps of: i) powering up an electrode within a vessel such that the electrode and vessel have an opposite polarity, wherein a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods are contained within the vessel, ii) the fluid passing through channels between the rods, iii) the solid particles within the fluid being retained against the rods by electrical field(s).

A water treatment system is disclosed having electrolytic cell for liberating hydrogen from a base solution. The base solution may be a solution of brine for generating sodium hypochlorite, or potable water to be oxidized. The cell has first and second opposing electrode endplates held apart from each other by a pair of supports such that the supports enclose opposing sides of the endplates to form a cell chamber. One or more inner electrode plates are spaced apart from each other in the cell chamber in between the first and second electrode plates. The supports are configured to electrically isolate the first and second electrode plates and the inner electrode plates from each other. The first and second electrode plates are configured to receive opposite polarity charges that passively charge the inner electrode plates via conduction from the base solution to form a chemical reaction in the base solution as the base solution passes through the cell chamber.

The current invention is an apparatus for concentrating ions in a water stream and a method for using the apparatus to concentrate ions for detection and/or removal.

The apparatus is comprised of an electrically charged barrier, a distal electrode having an electrical charge with a sign opposite to the electrical charge of the barrier, and a proximate electrode having an electrical charge with a sign corresponding to the electrical charge of the barrier. The apparatus further includes a moving water stream which is processed to comprise an ion-depleted stream and an ion-concentrated stream located between the distal electrode and the first surface, a first diversion structure to divert the ion-concentrated stream, a second diversion structure to divert the ion-depleted stream, and an electrical power source operatively coupled with the distal and proximate electrodes.

Disclosed are microfluidic devices and systems for the desalination of water. The devices and systems can include an electrode configured to generate an electric field gradient in proximity to an intersection formed by the divergence of two microfluidic channels from an inlet channel. Under an applied bias and in the presence of a pressure driven flow of saltwater, the electric field gradient can preferentially direct ions in saltwater into one of the diverging microfluidic channels, while desalted water flows into second diverging channel. Also provided are methods of using the devices and systems described herein to decrease the salinity of water.

A dielectrophoretic separator has a separator vessel having a fluid ingress at a first side and a fluid egress at a second side, an electrode electrically connected to a power source and contained within the vessel, along the central axis, a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods within the vessel positioned around and parallel to the electrode, wherein the electrode has a first polarity and the vessel has a second polarity such that an electromagnetic field is generated between the electrode and the vessel.

A method of performing a separation cycle has the steps of: i) powering up an electrode within a vessel such that the electrode and vessel have an opposite polarity, wherein a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods are contained within the vessel, ii) the fluid passing through channels between the rods, iii) the solid particles within the fluid being retained against the rods by electrical field(s).

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a system for disinfecting a fluid, the system comprising: an outer electrode defining an internal cavity; a center electrode comprising a plurality of surface area members, the center electrode positioned within the internal cavity and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the outer electrode; an inlet positioned proximate a first end of the outer electrode and configured to allow a fluid to pass from an area external to the cavity into the cavity; and an outlet positioned proximate a second end of the outer electrode and configured to allow the fluid to pass from the cavity into an area external to the cavity. A voltage supply can be configured to supply a voltage across the outer electrode and center electrode, the voltage generating a non-uniform electric field distribution on a cross-sectional plane of the system.