Various embodiments include a method for electrochemical utilization of carbon dioxide comprising: reducing carbon dioxide to a product gas in an electrolysis cell of an electrolyzer; delivering the product gas comprising carbon dioxide into a gas scrubbing apparatus; scrubbing the product gas to remove carbon dioxide using an absorbent in the gas scrubbing apparatus; regenerating the absorbent in an electrodialysis cell of an electrodialysis unit; at least partly recycling the regenerated absorbent into the gas scrubbing apparatus; and at least partly recycling the carbon dioxide released during the regenerating as reactant gas into the electrolyzer.

Various embodiments include a method for electrochemical utilization of carbon dioxide comprising: reducing carbon dioxide to a product gas in an electrolysis cell of an electrolyzer; delivering the product gas comprising carbon dioxide into a gas scrubbing apparatus; scrubbing the product gas to remove carbon dioxide using an absorbent in the gas scrubbing apparatus; regenerating the absorbent in an electrodialysis cell of an electrodialysis unit; at least partly recycling the regenerated absorbent into the gas scrubbing apparatus; and at least partly recycling the carbon dioxide released during the regenerating as reactant gas into the electrolyzer.

Provided are water treatment systems and methods of treating water that include separating dissolved salts from a feed stream using an organic solvent brine stream. For example, described are water treatment systems comprising: an electrodialysis device comprising an inlet feed stream, an inlet brine stream, an outlet product stream, and an outlet brine stream; and a precipitation tank comprising an inlet stream and an outlet stream, wherein the inlet stream of the precipitation tank comprises the outlet brine stream of the electrodialysis device, and the inlet brine stream of the electrodialysis device comprises the outlet stream of the precipitation tank, and wherein inlet brine stream and outlet brine stream comprises an organic solvent.

Provided are water treatment systems and methods of treating water that include separating dissolved salts from a feed stream using an organic solvent brine stream. For example, described are water treatment systems comprising: an electrodialysis device comprising an inlet feed stream, an inlet brine stream, an outlet product stream, and an outlet brine stream; and a precipitation tank comprising an inlet stream and an outlet stream, wherein the inlet stream of the precipitation tank comprises the outlet brine stream of the electrodialysis device, and the inlet brine stream of the electrodialysis device comprises the outlet stream of the precipitation tank, and wherein inlet brine stream and outlet brine stream comprises an organic solvent.

Described herein is an ion pump system implementing an electronic ratchet mechanism produced by modulating a spatially varying electric potential distribution that can result in a net ionic current and voltage. The ion pumping membrane system includes an ion-permeable layer that can also be integrated with ion-selective membranes. The electric potential distribution within the ion-permeable layer is modulated through external stimuli. When immersed in solution, ions within the ion-permeable layer experience a time varying, spatially asymmetric electric field distribution resulting in ratchet-driven direct ion pumping, which can be used in applications such as desalination.

A fluid purification system has cells whose purifying capability can be regenerated. Some of the cells are arranged in series to reach a high level of purification. An automatic valve network is controlled to cycle the cells in a way that levels the loads on each, thereby maximizing the service interval for replacing expired cells, enabling all of the cells to be replaced at the same time after having each contributing approximately equally to the purification load, and operated such that at any one time, at least one cell is regenerated so as to enable continuous up-time.

Methods of operating an electrochemical separation device is disclosed. The methods include operating the electrochemical separation device in an active mode until the resistance reaches a predetermined threshold, regenerating the electrochemical separation device in a passive mode until the resistance reaches a predetermined threshold, and resuming operation of the electrochemical separation device in the active mode. The methods also include operating the electrochemical separation device in an active mode for a predetermined period of time, regenerating the electrochemical separation device in a passive mode for a predetermined period of time, and resuming operation of the electrochemical separation device in the active mode. Water treatment systems include the electrochemical separation device and a control module are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating operation of the electrochemical separation device by providing a control sequence are also disclosed.

Methods of operating an electrochemical separation device is disclosed. The methods include operating the electrochemical separation device in an active mode until the resistance reaches a predetermined threshold, regenerating the electrochemical separation device in a passive mode until the resistance reaches a predetermined threshold, and resuming operation of the electrochemical separation device in the active mode. The methods also include operating the electrochemical separation device in an active mode for a predetermined period of time, regenerating the electrochemical separation device in a passive mode for a predetermined period of time, and resuming operation of the electrochemical separation device in the active mode. Water treatment systems include the electrochemical separation device and a control module are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating operation of the electrochemical separation device by providing a control sequence are also disclosed.

A purification device is provided. The purification device includes: an injection channel having an inlet provided on one end thereof; a purification channel and a discharge channel which branch off from the other end of the injection channel via a mesh part, and the remaining substance to be purified is discharged through the discharge channel; an ion-selective membrane contacting at least one side of the mesh part; and a buffer part arranged on the other side of the ion-selective membrane which is in contact with the mesh part, wherein the mesh part has an ion-selective coating layer formed on the surface thereof, and when an electric field is applied, an ion concentration polarization phenomenon occurs to the other end of the injection channel and to the adjacent portion of the mesh part, whereby an ion depletion zone is formed.

A purification device is provided. The purification device includes: an injection channel having an inlet provided on one end thereof; a purification channel and a discharge channel which branch off from the other end of the injection channel via a mesh part, and the remaining substance to be purified is discharged through the discharge channel; an ion-selective membrane contacting at least one side of the mesh part; and a buffer part arranged on the other side of the ion-selective membrane which is in contact with the mesh part, wherein the mesh part has an ion-selective coating layer formed on the surface thereof, and when an electric field is applied, an ion concentration polarization phenomenon occurs to the other end of the injection channel and to the adjacent portion of the mesh part, whereby an ion depletion zone is formed.