The present invention provides a system (1) and a process for purification of fluids, particularly water, to get a constant or desired output quality of water irrespective of the variations in the input quality of water. The water purification system of the present invention employs a microcontroller designed to set purification parameters (current/voltage/etc.) or the desired quality of water that is needed, for working of the operative cell.

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.

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.

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.

An integrated electrochemical cell and method for processing lithium brine to obtain recovered lithium and produce a lithium product in a single continuous process. The integrated cell has a catholyte chamber with an intercalating electrode for lithium recovery from a lithium brine streaming through the catholyte chamber. A first anion exchange membrane separates the catholyte chamber from a buffer chamber. The buffer chamber streams a salt of a brine-predominant anion (e.g., a chloride salt for lithium brine containing predominantly chloride salt, or a carbonate salt for lithium brine containing predominantly carbonate salt) for removing the brine-predominant anion and thus preventing precipitation of salt species on first anion exchange membrane. An intermediate membrane separates the buffer chamber from a compatible anion chamber that streams a compatible salt that contains compatible or product anions desired for formation of the lithium product. A second anion exchange membrane separates compatible anion chamber from an anolyte chamber. The anolyte chamber has a lithium de-intercalating electrode for releasing lithium ions and it streams a lithium-bearing solution to obtain the lithium product through pairing of lithium ions with the product anions received from the compatible anion chamber via the second anion exchange membrane. A voltage source is provided for applying a potential difference between the electrodes to drive the process.

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.

Non-gas emitting electrodes having a very high surface area, high electric capacitance, and low electric resistance are integrated with silver and/or silver chloride for use in electrodialysis/electrodeionization cells, or in any other system requiring the generation of electric fields through electrolyte solutions, and are capable of generating an electric field for extensive periods of time without generation of gases, and without the occurrence of water splitting electrode reactions. Each electrode is highly porous and highly conductive, such as a carbon aerogel electrode, and thus has a very large internal surface area, which is infused with silver and/or silver chloride. This combination supercapacitor and pseudocapacitor electrode can sustain electrode reactions for longer periods of time, and at much higher current densities, as compared to conventional (solid) silver/silver chloride electrodes.

The present disclosure describes a flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) desalination system and method of use. An FCDI desalination system is described employing one or more FCDI cells equipped with two coaxially oriented membranes mounted within a column housing capped with two end caps, each end cap comprising two carbon slurry ports and one water port. The column is lined with a chargeable sleeve capable of receiving a positive or negative charge. The annular space between the chargeable sleeve and the outside surface of the outer concentric membrane creates a flow path for a first carbon slurry to pass therethrough. The space between the inside surface of the outer concentric membrane and the outer surface of the inner concentric membrane creates a flow path for the saline water to be treated. The space within the inner annular portion of the inner concentric membrane creates a flow path for a second carbon slurry and contains a chargeable rod or wire capable of receiving an opposite charge. The first and second opposed end caps on the column are outfitted to continue these independent flow paths. As the saline water travels through its flow path, its salt ions are removed through the coaxial membranes via the two carbon slurries.

A forward osmosis filtration cell is provided which includes a fluid passageway and a forward osmosis filtration membrane positioned within the passageway. The filtration membrane divides the fluid passageway into two chambers, a first chamber configured to hold a draw solution, and a second chamber configured to hold a feed solution. The filtration cell further includes a first electrode positioned in the first chamber, and a second electrode positioned in the second chamber. The first and second electrodes are configured to apply an electric field across the filtration membrane to prevent fouling on the filtration membrane. A method of using a forward osmosis filtration cell in a water treatment system, and a method of retrofitting a water treatment system with first and second electrodes are also provided.

A device for monitoring a concentration of silicate in a fluid including the silicate includes a concentrator, a solution reactor configured to introduce a molybdic compound and a reducer to the fluid, and a concentration analyzer configured to output a quantified silicate concentration by measuring an absorbance, wherein the concentrator includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a current collector configured to supply power to the first electrode and the second electrode at one side of each of the first electrode and the second electrode, a concentrator flow path which is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and is a passage through which the fluid moves, and a cation exchange membrane disposed between the first electrode and the concentrator flow path. A silicate concentration monitoring method is also provided.