A device for removing ions from a solution. The device includes first and second flow channels between an anion exchange membrane and first and second flow plates, respectively. The first flow channel has a first land volume positioned between the first land regions and the anion exchange membrane. The first flow channel has a first channel volume positioned between the anion exchange membrane and the first channel regions and spaced apart from the anion exchange membrane. The second flow channel has a second land volume positioned between the second land regions and the anion exchange membrane. The second flow channel has a second channel volume positioned between the anion exchange membrane and the second channel regions and spaced apart from the anion exchange membrane. The device also includes an intercalation material positioned within the first land and channel volumes or the second land and channel volumes.

An electrodialysis desalination device includes a first electrode including a first-stage side; a second electrode including a first-stage side; and a first stage between the first-stage side of the first electrode and the first-stage side of the second electrode. The first stage includes at least one first-stage cell pair positioned between the first-stage side of the first electrode and the first-stage side of the second electrode, and each cell pair includes a pair of first-stage selectively permeable ion-exchange membranes with alternating selectivity that define first-stage channels on opposite sides of each first-stage membrane for respective flows of a first-stage diluate stream and a first-stage concentrate stream. A single pump is configured to pump the diluate streams and the concentrate streams through the first stage.

Disclosed is a process for enriching silicate content in drinking water that includes separating raw water via reverse osmosis into a permeate comprising demineralised raw water and a retentate comprising mineral enriched raw water. The permeate is mixed with a water glass solution comprising sodium silicate and/or potassium silicate. An ion exchange process is used to reduce the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions in at least part of the mixture. At least part of the retentate is supplied to the mixture after reducing the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions to provide a silicate-enriched drinking water. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing a drinking water enriched with silicate. The apparatus includes a reverse osmosis unit, a mixing unit, an ion exchanger, and a feed unit for feeding at least part of the retentate to the mixture after reducing the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions.

A device and method are described for the treatment of blood, which device may be used in conjunction with or in place of a failed Kidney. The device includes an ultrafiltration unit to remove proteins, red and white blood cells and other high molecular weight components, a nanofiltration unit to remove glucose, at least one electrodeionization unit to transport ions from the blood stream, and a reverse osmosis unit to modulate the flow of water, to both the blood and urine streams. In one embodiment, a specialized electrodeionization unit is provided having multiple chambers defining multiple dilute fluid channels, each channel filled with an ion specific resin wafer, and electrodes at the extremity of the device and proximate each of the resin filled dilute channels. By selective application of voltages to these electrodes, the ion transport functionality of a given dilute channel can be turned on or off.

This invention relates to an improved electrodialysis method for preparing an amino acid from a salt of the amino acid utilizing a three-compartment bipolar membrane electrodialysis process wherein an aqueous electrolyte comprising an exogenous acid is added to the acid compartment of a three-compartment bipolar membrane apparatus. The exogenous acid is different than the amino acid and typically has a pKa less than the pKa of the amino acid.

A resin-wafer electrodeionization (RW-EDI) apparatus for purifying water for coffee brewing comprises a cathode; an anode; and multiple porous solid resin wafer exchange units arranged in a stack between the cathode and the anode, and an air distributor adapted and arranged to aerate the water to be purified. Each unit comprises a monovalent cation exchange membrane (CEM), an anion exchange membrane (AEM), and an ion exchange resin wafer between the CEM and the AEM, which is in contact with, and in fluid flow connection with the CEM and AEM. Each resin wafer comprises a cation exchange resin and an anion exchange resin. The units are oriented with the CEM facing the cathode and the AEM facing the anode, with space between the units defining ion concentrate chambers. Bipolar ion exchange membranes separate the anode and cathode from their nearest resin wafer exchange units.

A deionization device is for at least partially deionizing a feed liquid in which at least one electrolyte is dissolved. The device has at least one process channel with a feed inlet for receiving the feed liquid, and a feed outlet; one or more collector channel(s) for collecting the anions and cations separated from the feed liquid; an electrolyte outlet for discharging the collected anions and cations; and at least one channel electrode, at least one separating electrode, and at least one collector electrode. The channel and separating electrodes are placed at opposite sides of the process channel, and the separating and collector electrodes are placed at opposite sides of the collector channel(s). A field generator generates an electric and/or magnetic field between the channel and separating electrodes, and between the separating and collector electrodes, to generate an ion flow from the process to the collector channel(s), which is the same for anions and cations.

A device and method are described for the treatment of blood, which device may be used in conjunction with or in place of a failed Kidney. The device includes an ultrafiltration unit to remove proteins, red and white blood cells and other high molecular weight components, a nanofiltration unit to remove glucose, at least one electrodeionization unit to transport ions from the blood stream, and a reverse osmosis unit to modulate the flow of water, to both the blood and urine streams. In one embodiment, a specialized electrodeionization unit is provided having multiple chambers defining multiple dilute fluid channels, each channel filled with an ion specific resin wafer, and electrodes at the extremity of the device and proximate each of the resin filled dilute channels. By selective application of voltages to these electrodes, the ion transport functionality of a given dilute channel can be turned on or off.

Disclosed is a process for enriching silicate content in drinking water that includes separating raw water via reverse osmosis into a permeate comprising demineralised raw water and a retentate comprising mineral enriched raw water. The permeate is mixed with a water glass solution comprising sodium silicate and/or potassium silicate. An ion exchange process is used to reduce the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions in at least part of the mixture. At least part of the retentate is supplied to the mixture after reducing the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions to provide a silicate-enriched drinking water. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing a drinking water enriched with silicate. The apparatus includes a reverse osmosis unit, a mixing unit, an ion exchanger, and a feed unit for feeding at least part of the retentate to the mixture after reducing the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions.

A lithium recovery device equipped with a processing tank partitioned into a supply tank and a recovery tank by a lithium ion-conducting electrolyte film, and which, in order to selectively move Li+ to an aqueous solution in the recovery tank from an aqueous solution in the supply tank containing Li+ and metal ions Mn+ which are different therefrom, is also equipped with a first power supply connected between porous-structure electrodes provided so as to respectively contact both surfaces of the electrolyte film with the electrode on the supply tank side as the positive electrode, and a second power supply which connects in series to the negative electrode of the first power supply and in which said negative electrode is connected to a sub-electrode provided at a distance from the electrolyte film inside the recovery tank, wherein the second power supply applies a voltage so as to cause a current to flow from the positive electrode to the electrode.