Originally observed in 1960 by Blair and Murphy, Capacitive Deionization Technology (CDI) is based on ion electroabsorption at the surface of a pair of electrically charged electrodes, commonly composed of highly porous carbon materials. Recent advances in cell architectures and systems designs have yet to result in an economically viable, industrial-scale device to efficiently desalinate high salinity waters. The limiting factors thus far not solved are 1) surface requirements, 2) time inefficiencies inherent to charge-discharge cycles, 3) brine stream and feed water stream fluidic handling and 4) ecological managment of the residual brine stream.

Conventional CDI devices with flow-by or flow-through electrode architectures, including membrane supported structures, operate on the principle that the electrosorption process and fluidic handling within one channel ultimately lead to two distinct streams at the end of the desalination process, a freshwater stream and a residual brine stream with a very high concentration of ions.

The Dual-Channel Double-Electrode Cache Deionization Device does not have one residual brine stream with a very high concentration of sodium and chlorine ions. The residual products, Sodium cations (Na) and Chlorine anions (Cl), are each removed in separate channels. The architecture and operating modus are such that instead of one channel two channels, connected with a porous interface to ensure ion migration between the channels, operate simultaneously, each with the sole purpose of removing only one type of ion. Within each channel double-electrode-cache modules, identical in design and operation, attract each ion type with a positive. resp. negative electric charge of between 0.8 V and 1.4 V, each cache consisting of two electrodes which are electrically isolated from each other.

A device for purifying and/or concentrating a first water stream containing ionic impurities includes a first and second ion exchange membrane and a first porous membrane. The ion exchange membranes have the same charge, and a channel into which the first water stream can be directed is defined between the first and second ion exchange membranes. The channel has an inlet end and a return flow end and comprises a first and second outlet. The inlet and at least the first outlet are located on the inlet end of the channel and are separated by the first porous membrane that traverses the length of the channel between the ion exchange membranes and terminates at a return flow zone that is at least partially closed. At least part of the first water stream flows through the first porous membrane, joining a first return flow stream.

A reactor system for reacting liquid phase chemical species in a liquid includes a reactor vessel for containing the liquid phase and a gas phase. The reactor vessel can have a gas injection port, a gas exit port, and a liquid-gas interface location within the reactor vessel. A pulsed discharge cathode and anode are provided for creating a pulsed discharge electric field at the liquid-gas interface location. A pulsed discharge power supply delivers a pulsed power input to the pulsed discharge cathode and anode, and thereby creates a plasma comprising ions at the liquid-gas interface location. A secondary electric field source is provided for directing a secondary electric field transverse to the liquid-gas interface. The secondary electric field will drive some of the ions from the gas phase into the liquid phase to react with the liquid phase chemical species. A method for reacting a liquid phase chemical species is also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a capacitive deionization (CDI) system for desalinating salt water. The system may have a capacitor formed by spaced apart first and second electrodes, which enable a fluid flow containing salt water to pass either between them or through them. An input electrical power source is configured to generate an electrical forcing signal between the two electrodes. The electrical forcing signal represents a periodic signal including at least one of voltage or current, and which can be represented as a Fourier series. One component of the Fourier series is a constant, and a second component of the Fourier series is a sinusoidal wave of non-zero frequency which has the highest amplitude of the additive components of the Fourier series. The amplitude of the sinusoidal wave component is between 0.85 and 1.25 times the amplitude of the periodic signal.

A dewatering apparatus for cellulosic materials includes a chamber for an aqueous solution of a cellulosic material, an inner electrode in the chamber, an outer electrode in the chamber about the inner electrode, and a power supply connected to the inner electrode and the outer electrode applying a voltage potential across the electrodes to remove water associated with the aqueous solution and to dewater the cellulosic materials.

The present invention provides return flow ICP and ED systems and methods that can be used for water desalination and/or concentration of a wide range of target brine and other aqueous and contaminated streams.

An apparatus for providing metal ions to a fluid waste stream includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port through which the fluid waste stream enters and exits the housing. Within the housing and between the inlet and outlet ports is an electrode assembly that includes first electrode ring assemblies and second electrode ring assemblies. Each first electrode ring assembly includes a first tubular section formed of electrically insulative material and has an interior through which the fluid waste stream flows. One or more first electrode plates span the interior of the first tubular section and contact the fluid waste stream. Each second electrode ring assembly includes a second tubular section formed of electrically insulative material and has an interior through which the fluid waste stream flows. One or more second electrode plates span the interior of the second tubular section and contact the fluid waste stream. The first tubular sections of the first electrode ring assemblies are in fluid communication with the second tubular sections of the second electrode ring assemblies.

The present invention relates to a carbon based electrode with a large geometrical surface area comprising a frame of an electrically conductive material with several cut-outs with a surface area, which cut-outs are separated from each other by portions of the conductive material, wherein carbon based sub-electrodes dimensioned so as to a least cover the surface area of the cut-outs are positioned in the cut-outs and conductively connected to at least part of each of the portions of the conductive material adjacent to the carbon based sub-electrodes.

Drainage water that includes anions and cations dissolved in water and that is received from an agricultural or industrial facility is treated by applying a voltage to an anode and a cathode on opposite sides of an electrically driven separation apparatus that further includes at least one monovalent-selective ion exchange membrane between the anode and the cathode. The drainage water is passed through the electrically driven separation apparatus, wherein monovalent ions are selected from the drainage water through the monovalent-selective ion exchange membrane. The drainage water is then recirculated as treated water through the facility after the monovalent ions are removed.

A device (10) for capacitive deionization of an aqueous media containing dissolved ion species, said device comprising a cell with a first primary electrode (2) and a second primary electrode (3) arranged opposite the first primary electrode (2) and preferably separated by at least one non-conductive spacer (4, 4). A third electrode (7) is arranged between the first and the second electrode. The third electrode (7) is grounded whereas the first and the second electrodes are polarized versus the grounded third electrode.