The present disclosure is directed to an electrodialytic stack with a concentrate stream that moves through a concentrate flow path bounded by a central ion exchange membrane and a first outer ion exchange membrane. A dilute stream moves through a dilute flow path bounded by the central ion exchange membrane and a second outer ion exchange membrane. A redox shuttle loop is separated from the concentrate and dilute streams by the first and second outer ion exchange membranes, respectively. The outer ion exchange membranes are a different type than the central ion exchange membrane. Electrodes are operable to apply a voltage across the stack. At least one collection of ion exchange materials is located in at least one of the flow paths. The ion exchange materials migrate ions between the central ion exchange membrane and at least one of the outer ion exchange membranes.

An ion separator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first electrode buffer channel and a second electrode buffer channel; a main channel that connects between the first electrode buffer channel and the second buffer channel; a first ion exchange membrane positioned between the first electrode buffer channel and the main channel; a porous second ion exchange membrane that is provide across the main channel and contains pores of different sizes; a first electrode electrically connected to the main channel with the first electrode buffer channel in between; and a second electrode electrically connected to the main channel with the second electrode buffer channel in between, wherein the second ion exchange membrane may be inserted into the main channel while being inclined toward a fluid flowing through the main channel.

A technology that provides various modular biomimetic microfluidic modules emulating varieties of microvasculature in body. These microfluidic-base capillaries and lymphatic Technology modules are constructed as multilayered-microfluidic microchannels of various shapes, and aspect ratios using diverse biocompatible microfluidic polymers. Then, various semipermeable membranes are sandwiched in between these multilayered microfluidic microchannels. These membranes have different chemical, physical characteristics and MWCO values. Consequently, this design will produce much smaller dimension channels similar to human vasculature to achieve biomimetic properties like of human organs and tissues. By interchanging microfluidic-layers or the membranes various diverse modules are designed that act as building blocks for constructing various medical devices, various forms of dialysis devices including albumin and lipid dialysis, water purification, bioreactors, bio-artificial organ support systems. Connecting various modules in diverse combinations, permutations, in parallel and/or in series to ultimately design many unrelated medical devices such as dialysis, bioreactors and organ support devices.

An anion-exchange membrane of the present invention includes a substrate made of polyolefin-based woven fabric and an anion-exchange resin, and has an electrical resistance measured using 0.5 M NaCl solution at 25° C. of 1.0 Ω•cm.sup.2 or more to 2.5 Ω•cm.sup.2 or less, a bursting strength of 0.7 MPa or more to 1.2 MPa or less, a water permeation rate measured using pressured water at 0.1 MPa of 300 ml/(m.sup.2•hr) or less, a thickness of the substrate of 90 .Math.m or more to 160 .Math.m or less, and an open area ratio of the substrate of 35% or more to 55% or less.

A process for electrochemical preparation of sodium alkoxide is performed in an electrolysis cell having three chambers, wherein the middle chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by a solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions, and from the anode chamber by a diffusion barrier. The geometry of the electrolysis cell protects the solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions from acidic destruction by the pH of the anolyte that falls in the course of electrolysis. The anolyte used in the process is a brine also comprising carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates, as well as NaCl. The process solves the problem that CO.sub.2 from these carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates forms in the electrolysis cell during the electrolysis of this brine obtained from pretreatment. The process prevents the formation of a gas bubble in the electrolysis cell that disrupts electrolysis and reduces the contamination of the chlorine with CO.sub.2.

A pressure balancing system for two sides of an electrodialysis reversal (EDR) film stack includes two source water inlets, an EDR film stack, four pressure sensors, a variable speed pump, a one-way valve, a clean water outlet, a waste water outlet, and a control system module. With the four pressure sensors detecting water pressures at four ports on two sides of the EDR film stack and with the variable speed pump and the control system module adjusting water pressure at the waste water outlet, water pressure at the clean water outlet is equivalent to the water pressure at the waste water outlet. Accordingly, the water pressures on the two sides of the EDR film stack can be balanced, and service life and water purification efficiency of the EDR film stack can be improved.

A system comprises an electrodialysis apparatus, which includes first and second reservoirs, wherein a salt concentration in the first reservoir reduces below a threshold concentration and salt concentration in the second reservoir increases during an operation mode. A first electrode comprises a first solution of a first redox-active electrolyte material, and a second electrode comprises a second solution of a second redox-active electrolyte material. In a first reversible redox reaction between the first electrode and first electrolyte material at least one ion is accepted from the first reservoir, and in a second reversible redox reaction between the second electrode and second electrolyte material at least one ion is driven into the second reservoir. A first type of membrane is disposed between the first and second reservoirs, and a second type of membrane, different from the first type, is disposed between the respective electrodes and reservoirs.

A water conditioning system of an electrodialysis reversal (EDR) water purifier includes a first source water inlet, a second source water inlet, an EDR film stack, a first conductive probe, a second conductive probe, a third conductive probe, a fourth conductive probe, a variable speed pump, a one-way valve, a clean water outlet, a waste water outlet, an electrode A, an electrode B, and a control system module. With the four conductive probes detecting conductivity of water flowing through four ports on two sides of the EDR film stack and by sending detected data to the control system module, the control system module adjusts voltages of the electrode A and electrode B accordingly to instantly increase or decrease removal efficiency of the EDR film stack. Thus, the conductivity of the discharged clean water and the quality of the clean water can be stabilized.

Disclosed is a method for the manufacture of a spray-dried powder consisting essentially of LNT and/or LNnT, the spray-dried powder, its use for the manufacture of nutritional compositions, and nutritional compositions containing the spray-dried powder.

An ion exchange resin and a method for preparing the same are provided. An ion exchange resin is formed by a composition, and the composition includes a crosslinking agent and an ionic compound with sulfonate ions. The ionic compound with sulfonate ions is formed by reacting an epoxy resin with an ionic monomer with sulfonate ions or an ionic polymer having sulfonate ions. The ionic monomer and the ionic polymer each has a hydroxyl group or an acid group at the ends. The ionic monomer or the ionic polymer is 40 to 80 parts by weight, and the epoxy resin is 15 to 25 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the ion exchange resin. An ion exchange resin with a network structure is formed after the ionic compound with sulfonate ions reacts with the crosslinking agent.