Various examples are related to smart membranes for monitoring membrane based process such as, e.g., membrane distillation processes. In one example, a membrane, includes a porous surface and a plurality of sensors (e.g., temperature, flow and/or impedance sensors) mounted on the porous surface. In another example, a membrane distillation (MD) process includes the membrane. Processing circuitry can be configured to monitor outputs of the plurality of sensors. The monitored outputs can be used to determine membrane degradation, membrane fouling, or to provide an indication of membrane replacement or cleaning. The sensors can also provide temperatures or temperature differentials across the porous surface, which can be used to improve modeling or control the MD process.

A spiral-wound electrodialysis module includes an inner electrode positioned about a central axis and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. Ion exchange membranes are arranged in a stack, and each membrane extends in a spiral outward from an inner position proximate the inner electrode to an outer position proximate the outer electrode. The spirals expand outward at a greater-than-linear rate as a function of angle along a length of the spiral from the inner positions to the outer positions.

A 3D nanopore device for characterizing biopolymer molecules includes a first selecting layer having a first axis of selection. The device also includes a second selecting layer disposed adjacent the first selecting layer and having a second axis of selection orthogonal to the first axis of selection. The device further includes an third electrode layer disposed adjacent the second selecting layer, such that the first selecting layer, the second selecting layer, and the third electrode layer form a stack of layers along a Z axis and define a plurality of nanopore pillars.

This Capacitive Electro Dialysis Reversal (CEDR) invention desalinates and concentrates saline water. The CEDR unit employs two identical parallel oppositely oriented modified Electro Dialysis Reversal EDR constructions that have shared dilute and concentrated saline water channels. The four electrodes of the two identical oppositely oriented parallel EDR like constructions are replaced with four supercapacitor electrodes. Each EDR like construction consists of a stack of ion exchange membranes and spacers plus the supercapacitor electrodes but one cation exchange membrane is trimmed from each of the two stacks of EDR like ion exchange membranes. During a cycle of operation, the supercapacitor electrodes discharge and then charge causing ions to be pulled out of the shared dilute saline water channels and placed in the shared concentrated saline water channels except at the ends where the ions flow in and out of the supercapacitor electrodes. The two adjacent supercapacitor electrodes on either end are exchanged between the two-modified parallel EDR like constructions at the end of each cycle of operation. This process of supercapacitor discharging and charging and then exchanging places operates continuously. A benefit of this CEDR invention is that no gasses are formed at the supercapacitor electrodes like EDR does using conducting electrodes but a similar performance to that of EDR is maintained. A feature of this CEDR invention is that almost all the energy delivered to it is used in desalination and saline water concentration while energy losses at the supercapacitor electrodes located at the ends of the CEDR unit are very small and negligible.

An electrodeionization filter includes: a housing having a water inlet and a water outlet; a first electrode installed inside the housing in a spiral shape; a second electrode installed inside the housing in a spiral shape so as to be spaced apart from the first electrode; and an ion exchange module installed between the first electrode and the second electrode for adsorbing or desorbing ionic substances contained in water introduced by an application of electricity. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode has a structure in which a center portion thereof is denser than a peripheral region thereof. Accordingly, the lifespan of the electrodes of the electrodeionization filter can be increased, and the assembly of the electrodes and related parts can be easily facilitated.

A fluid treatment apparatus is constructed from at least one electrochemical cell including a bipolar ion exchange membrane and having a single output orifice to deliver treated fluid. The apparatus may employ a power supply transformer featuring a magnetic dispersion bridge to regulate the magnetic flux to secondary coils, thereby limiting the current delivered to the load and protecting the apparatus from over-current damage. The cell includes a membrane assembly which incorporates both the inner and outer electrodes to provide repeatable assembly and service, as well as reliable performance. The apparatus will provide continuous fluid treatment when designed with at least two stages, each stage including at least one cell, in which one stage is treating influent solution and another stage is regenerating. A method to operate these apparatus includes the steps of deionizing influent solution without interruption, halting deionization water flow and removing power from the deionization cells, flushing the liquid between membrane layers to the drain outlet, initiating regeneration power, and initiating regeneration flow.

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.

An electromembrane extraction (EME) device including a union connector, an acceptor compartment with a connector end and a donor compartment with a connector end wherein both connector ends are connectable to the union connector, wherein the union connector includes a flat membrane with a seal on each side thereof, wherein the seals when the acceptor compartment and the donor compartment are connected to the union connector are arranged respectively between the acceptor compartment connector end and the flat membrane and the donor compartment connector end and the flat membrane.

The present invention provides an organic bioelectronic HD device system for the effective removal of protein-bound substances, comprising PEDOT:PSS, a multiwall carbon nanotube, polyethylene oxide (PEO), and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GOPS). The composite nanofiber platform exhibited (i) long-term water-resistance; (ii) high adhesion strength on the PES membrane; (iii) enhanced electrical properties; and (iv) good anticoagulant ability and negligible hemolysis of red blood cells, suggesting great suitability for use in developing next-generation bioelectronic medicines for HD.

The presently disclosed concepts relate to green battery recycling systems and critical mineral reclamation and refinement. Alkali metal extraction (and in particular lithium extraction) is accomplished using a solid electrolyte membrane in combination with electrodes in a redox configuration. The energy used to initially extract lithium from a feed solution is stored as electrochemical energy, which electrochemical energy is reclaimed in subsequent reclamation processing steps. This reclamation may further allow for lithium to be converted to lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, or purified to a minimum purity of 99.9% lithium by mass. These extraction and reclamation steps may performed in continuous ultra-efficient ongoing cycles. Since irrecoverable energy losses incurred in each cycle are limited to negligible amounts of joule heating of the system components and feed solution, the system can be sustainably powered using locally-generated renewable energy, which in turn, provides for a green and sustainable solution for lithium recycling.