The co-generation of hydrogen from water produced during pressure driven water desalination/filtration processes, such as reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, pressure retarded osmosis or ultrafiltration, is described herein. A small part of feed, raw saline solution and/or permeate involved in a desalination/filtration processes is subjected to electrolysis thereby splitting the water to produce hydrogen. This is achieved by the provision of novel RO type semi-permeable membranes and UF type membrane that incorporate electrodes within the membrane to allow splitting of the water via electrolysis.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for electrically conductive membrane separation from a mixture solution via membrane nanofiltration, electro-filtration, or electro-extraction by: generating an electric field at the membrane filter, holding the membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or driving a constant current through the membrane filter; feeding a mixture solution through the membrane nanofiltration system; and separating a component from the mixture solution into a permeate solution.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

A method of operating a membrane is provided. The membrane comprises: a porous layer; a first electrically conductive layer located on a first side of the porous layer; and a second electrically conductive layer located on a second side of the porous layer. When an electric voltage is applied between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer, the membrane prevents moisture intrusion from a first surface of the membrane towards a second surface of the membrane. The method comprises applying an electric voltage between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface of the membrane towards the second surface of the membrane when it is desired to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface towards the second surface. A membrane system for performing the method is also provided.

The present invention relates to a method for the at least temporary retention of charged biologically active substances such as endotoxins, viruses, and proteins from liquids, and optional later release for better determination. The object is achieved by a method for the at least temporary separation and/or detection of charged biologically active substances in a liquid by means of electrosorption and/or electrofiltration, comprising the following steps: a. providing a polymer membrane with a flat and porous metal coating at least on a first side of the polymer membrane; b. providing a counterelectrode; c. applying a voltage between the metal coating of the polymer membrane and the counterelectrode; d. bringing the polymer membrane and the counterelectrode into contact with the liquid, with the contacting being performed such that the liquid generates at least one connection between the polymer membrane and the counterelectrode.

An electrochemically reactive membrane filtration system that exhibits antifouling characteristics, high surface reactivity and removal of organic pollutants and microbes in water. Such electrochemically reactive membrane systems can be incorporated as a core part of point-of-use (POU) water treatment and disinfection devices that exhibit performance of water purification at the endpoint of drinking water supply (e.g., tap water or pure water machine) and warrant the drinking water quality.

An apparatus for removal of ions from water having: a carbon coated first current collector; a second current collector; a spacer in between the first and second current collectors to allow water to flow in between the first and second current collectors; a first charge barrier in between the first carbon coated current collector and the spacer to selectively allow anions or cations to flow through the first charge barrier. The apparatus may have a second charge barrier coated on the carbon coated first current collector and in contact with the first charge barrier to improve contact. A third charge barrier functioning as a membrane may be provided in between the second current collector and the spacer.

Disclosed are activated carbon electrodes fabricated according to a pore mouth diameter mixture profile that is optimized for a given electrochemical application. In a given pore mouth diameter mixture profile, the pore mouth diameter and conductivity of activated carbon are tightly controlled and provide unexpected long-term charging/discharging (aka cycling) performance. A given pore mouth diameter mixture profile optimizes a mixture of pore mouth diameters for a given electrochemical application, such as energy storage, desalination, deionization, hydrolysis, and dialysis, inter alia.

Methods for improving ion flux and energy efficiency in a membrane stack of an electrodialysis unit wherein the membrane stack is disposed between an anode and a cathode each in an electrolyte of a selected concentration. Methods include increasing the concentration of the electrolyte, adding a strong base to the electrolyte and adding buffering anions to the electrolyte. Methods for cleaning the electrodes of such a unit involving involve applying a pulsed polarity reversal to the electrodes. Also provided are methods for improving unit operation by increasing the basicity of the electrolyte to the anode and increasing the acidity of the electrolyte to the cathode or alternatively or in addition, by applying heat to increase the operating temperature of at least one of the electrolyte and the treated water stream.

An electrode material for extracting an elemental ion from a liquid medium includes at least one electrode material having at least one ion sieve that is capable of retaining or releasing an elemental ion, or a mixture of such ion sieves, wherein the ion sieve or ion sieves is or are coated with carbon.