The present disclosure is directed to ion-exchange systems and devices that can monitor key parameters related to the performance of the ion-exchange device. Specifically, the ion-exchange systems and devices disclosed herein can provide real time voltage drop across groups of membrane pairs using diagnostic spacer borders between the pairs. In addition, the ion-exchange systems and devices disclosed herein can monitor the compression force applied by the compression plates holding the ion-exchange systems and devices together.

The present disclosure is directed ion-exchange systems and devices that include composite ion-exchange membranes having 3D printed spacers on them. These 3D printed spacers can drastically reduce the total intermembrane spacing within the system/device while maintaining a reliable sealing surface around the exterior border of the membrane. By adding the spacers directly to the membrane using additive manufacturing, the amount of material used can be reduced without adversely impacting the manufacturability of the composite membrane as well as allow for complex spacer geometries that can reduce the restrictions to flow resulting in less pressure drop associated with the flow in the active area of the membranes.

A device for delivering an ionic material includes a storage module including a reservoir configured to store the ionic material, a bipolar membrane configured to pass the ionic material in a single direction based on an ionic current, electrodes, disposed on a lower end of the reservoir and an upper end of the bipolar membrane, respectively, configured to form an electric field generating the ionic current, and a control module configured to control either one or both of a release amount and a release period of the ionic material passing through the bipolar membrane by adjusting a direction and an intensity of the electric field.

A device for delivering an ionic material includes a storage module including a reservoir configured to store the ionic material, a bipolar membrane configured to pass the ionic material in a single direction based on an ionic current, electrodes, disposed on a lower end of the reservoir and an upper end of the bipolar membrane, respectively, configured to form an electric field generating the ionic current, and a control module configured to control either one or both of a release amount and a release period of the ionic material passing through the bipolar membrane by adjusting a direction and an intensity of the electric field.

An improved spacer for use in electrodialysis and electrodeionization stacks can provide close contact between the spacer mesh and its adjacent ion exchange membranes, reducing the water flow cross-section through the cell. This in turn can lead to higher flow velocities and increased flow turbulence between ion exchange membranes, thereby reducing membrane polarization effects and increasing the limiting current density. The improved spacer can be combined with a voluminous spacer gasket for receiving a volume of electroactive media, the voluminous spacer gasket comprising an outer gasket edge having an open central area for receiving the electroactive media, and holes on the top and bottom of the outer gasket edge whose dimensions match the holes on the spacer.

An improved spacer for use in electrodialysis and electrodeionization stacks can provide close contact between the spacer mesh and its adjacent ion exchange membranes, reducing the water flow cross-section through the cell. This in turn can lead to higher flow velocities and increased flow turbulence between ion exchange membranes, thereby reducing membrane polarization effects and increasing the limiting current density. The improved spacer can be combined with a voluminous spacer gasket for receiving a volume of electroactive media, the voluminous spacer gasket comprising an outer gasket edge having an open central area for receiving the electroactive media, and holes on the top and bottom of the outer gasket edge whose dimensions match the holes on the spacer.

The invention relates to the field of dairy products and particularly concerns a method for the demineralization of whey. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: obtaining a whey, electrodialysis of the whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., acidification of the whey to a pH of between 2 and 3.5, pasteurization of the acidified whey, electrodialysis of the pasteurized acidified whey at a temperature of 30° C. to 60° C., and neutralization of the demineralized whey to a pH between 6.7 and 7.2. The method according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the whey demineralization using only the method of electrodialysis while avoiding the problems conventionally encountered with this method, namely a limited demineralization rate, fouling of the membranes, and an insufficient service life.

A process for manufacturing a demineralized milk protein composition, including a step (ii) of electrodialysis of a milk protein composition on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured to substitute at least one cation by at least one hydrogen ion H+ in the milk protein composition to obtain an at least partially demineralized and acidified milk protein composition; a step (iii) of electrodialysis of the milk protein composition obtained in step (ii) on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured so as to substitute at least one anion by at least one hydroxyl ion OH− in the milk protein composition.

A process for manufacturing a demineralized milk protein composition, including a step (ii) of electrodialysis of a milk protein composition on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured to substitute at least one cation by at least one hydrogen ion H+ in the milk protein composition to obtain an at least partially demineralized and acidified milk protein composition; a step (iii) of electrodialysis of the milk protein composition obtained in step (ii) on an electrodialyzer, the unit cells of which have three compartments, and configured so as to substitute at least one anion by at least one hydroxyl ion OH− in the milk protein composition.

A system for an electrochemical process includes an electrochemical reactor, a converter bridge for supplying direct current to electrodes of the electrochemical reactor, and serial inductors connected to alternating voltage terminals of the converter bridge. The converter bridge includes bi-directional controllable switches between the alternating voltage terminals and direct voltage terminals of the converter bridge. Forced commutation of the bi-directional controllable switches enables reduction of current ripple in the direct current supplied to the electrochemical reactor. The forced commutation enables also to control a power factor of an alternating voltage supply of the system.