A desalination battery cell includes a first compartment separated by an anion exchange membrane from a second compartment, each of the first and second compartments configured to contain a saline water solution having a concentration of dissolved salts c.sub.1 and having first and second intercalation host electrodes, respectively, arranged to be in fluid communication with the solution, a voltage source configured to supply electric current to the first and second intercalation host electrodes to release cations into the solution, and a controller programmed to adjust an amount of the electric current being supplied to change direction of anions, present in the solution, passing through the anion exchange membrane between the first and second compartments such that the first and second compartments alternately collect and disperse salt from the solution and the first and second compartments release desalinated water solution having a concentration c.sub.2 of dissolved salts and a brine solution having a concentration c.sub.3 of dissolved salts such that c.sub.3>c.sub.1>c.sub.2.

An electrodialytic battery system comprises an electrodialysis apparatus having first and second reservoirs, wherein concentration of an input solution in the first reservoir increases and concentration of the input solution decreases in the second reservoir during an operation mode. A first redox-active electrolyte chamber comprises a first electrode and a first solution of a first redox-active electrolyte material and has a reversible redox reaction with the first electrolyte material to drive an ion into the first reservoir. A second redox-active electrolyte chamber comprises a second electrode and a second solution of a redox-active electrolyte material and has a reversible redox reaction with the second electrolyte material to accept an ion from 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 electrode chambers and reservoirs.

Provided are a filter device and a washing method therefor. The filter device comprises a membrane housing (1); a spacer (2) having an ion transmittance and separating the membrane housing (1) into a first chamber (11) and a second chamber (12); a membrane element (6) disposed in the first chamber (11); a first electrode (4) disposed in the first chamber (11); and a second electrode (5) disposed in the second chamber (12). The method comprises respectively connecting a positive electrode and a negative electrode to the first electrode (4) and the second electrode (5), such that the first electrode (4) and the second electrode (5), water in the first chamber (11) and water in the second chamber (12) form an electrolytic cell, thus generating acidic water or alkaline water in the first chamber (11). The acidic water and/or the alkaline water are/is used for washing the member element.

A microchannel-membrane device comprises a microchannel extending through at least one electrode, the microchannel having a predetermined depth; an ionic permselective medium, such as a membrane, across the microchannel between the electrodes; and a heater, or array of heaters, embedded below the microchannel on at least one side of the permselective membrane. The heaters can be either prefabricated or dynamically patterned using laser illumination with/without photoconductive coating. The heaters are on the depletion side of the membrane and induce a vortex which limits the growth of the diffusion area. Operation of the heaters allows for controlled positioning of the end of the diffusion area and with it also the position of the preconcentrated molecule plug.

An osmotic power generator comprising an active membrane supported in a housing, at least a first chamber portion disposed on a first side of the active membrane for receiving a first electrolyte liquid and a second chamber portion disposed on a second side of the active membrane for receiving a second electrolyte liquid, a generator circuit comprising at least a first electrode electrically coupled to said first chamber, and at least a second electrode electrically coupled to said second chamber, the first and second electrodes configured to be connected together through a generator load receiving electrical power generated by a difference in potential and an ionic current between the first and second electrodes. The active membrane includes at least one pore allowing ions to pass between the first and second sides of the membrane under osmosis due to an osmotic gradient between the first and second electrolyte liquids to generate said difference in potential and ionic current between the first and second electrodes.

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.

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 method of pumping an aqueous fluid through an electroosmotic membrane situated between a cathode and an anode includes oxidizing water to O.sub.2 at the anode and reducing O.sub.2 at the cathode. A potential difference E between the cathode and the anode is 1.4 V or less.

The present invention relates to a biosensor, including: a blood cell separation membrane which separates blood cells from blood and allows plasma components to pass through; a microfluid channel through which the plasma components that have passed through the blood cell separation membrane flow; a lower substrate which allows the plasma components that have passed through the blood cell separation membrane to flow along the microfluid channel; and a pillar which connects the blood cell separation membrane and the lower substrate, in which an electrode is disposed in the pillar, and the pillar pushes and lifts the blood cell separation membrane by a predetermined distance. The biosensor of the present invention allows plasma, which is difficult to pass through the blood cell separation membrane due to surface tension, to easily pass through.

A metal coated polymer membrane, a method for the production thereof, an electrofiltration device, or an electrosorption device, and a method of electrofiltration and electrosorption using a metal coated polymer membrane. The polymer membrane is coated with metal using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD).