Abstract: An electrochemical cell for wastewater treatment comprises a catalyst coated membrane, an open pore mesh placed on each side of the catalyst coated membrane, and a compression frame placed next to each of the open pore meshes. Each compression frame has compression arms spread within the area delimited by the perimeter of the frame to apply a uniform compression force through fasteners which protrude through the compression arms, the open pore meshes and the catalyst coated membrane. Each open pore mesh comprises a flat surface and an embossed surface. The embossed surface can comprise embossed areas around the holes in the open pore mesh, transverse embossed areas which, in the assembled cell, are placed next to the compression arms of the compression frames and peripheral embossed areas along the perimeter of the open pore meshes. The embossed surface provides an improved protection against electro-circuiting.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for treating wastewater comprises an anode assembly, a cathode assembly and at least one bipolar electrode assembly placed between the anode and the cathode assembly such that the anodes of the anode assembly and the cathodes of the cathode assembly are interleaved with the bipolar plates of the bipolar electrode assembly. Each bipolar electrode assembly comprises a series of bipolar electrodes which operate as an anode or as a cathode, stacked in a vertical direction along a threaded bolt made of an electrically conductive material such that the bipolar electrodes operating as anodes are oriented in an opposite direction to the bipolar electrodes operating as cathodes and have their ends overlapping over a predetermined portion and being separated by conductive spacers. In preferred embodiments, only the anodes and the bipolar electrodes operating as anodes are coated with catalyst which saves costs and simplifies the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method for operating a wastewater treatment system is disclosed wherein the wastewater treatment system comprises at least one electrochemical cell comprising dimensionally stable electrodes having the same catalyst composition, the electrodes being immersed in wastewater and being connected to a power supply and wherein the voltage at the power supply is monitored and the polarity of the electrochemical cell(s) is reversed when the recorded voltage increases by a predetermined voltage difference. The wastewater treatment system can comprise at least one electrochemical cell which is kept inactive while the active electrochemical cells are operating. The inactive cell(s) can be activated when all the electrodes of the active cells are consumed as indicated by another increase in voltage at the power supply after the polarity of the active cells has been once reversed.

Abstract: A stack of electrochemical cells for wastewater treatment is disclosed comprising at least one electrochemical cell having a solid polymer membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer adjacent to each side of the membrane, an open pore mesh placed next to each of the catalyst layers and a compression frame placed next to each open pore mesh. A cover is placed between the compression frames of two neighbouring electrochemical cells in the stack thereby forming an enclosure which spans the distance between the two neighbouring electrochemical cells thereby isolating the cathode catalyst layer or the anode catalyst layer from the solution in the reactor tank in which the stack is immersed.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell for wastewater treatment is disclosed comprising a catalyst coated membrane, an open pore mesh placed next to the catalyst coated membrane, on each side of the membrane, and a compression frame placed next to each of the open pore meshes. The open pore meshes and the compression frames are made of a conductive material. Each compression frame has compression arms spread within the area delimited by the perimeter of the frame to apply a uniform compression force across the anode and cathode active areas through fasteners which protrude through the compression arms, the open pore meshes and the catalyst coated membrane. A stack comprising at least one such electrochemical cell is immersed in a reactor tank containing the wastewater to be treated.

Abstract: An efficient method and system for the electrochemical treatment of waste water comprising organic and/or inorganic pollutants is disclosed. The system comprises at least first and second solid polymer electrolyte electrolytic cell stacks in which each cell comprises a solid polymer, proton exchange membrane electrolyte operating without catholyte or other supporting electrolyte. The first and second stacks differ either in construction or operating condition. The cell stack design and operating conditions chosen provide for significantly greater operating efficiency.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell, system, and method for the energy efficient electrochemical treatment of wastewater comprising organic and/or inorganic pollutants are disclosed. The system comprises an electrolytic cell comprising a solid polymer, proton exchange membrane electrolyte operating without catholyte or other supporting electrolyte. The electrolytic cell also comprises a filter layer incorporated between the anode fluid delivery layer and the anode flow field plate for removing various contaminants including particulates and/or suspended solids from the wastewater stream. The cell design and operating conditions chosen provide for significantly greater operating efficiency.

Abstract: An efficient method and system for the electrochemical treatment of waste water comprising organic and/or inorganic pollutants is disclosed. The system comprises an electrolytic cell comprising a solid polymer, proton exchange membrane electrolyte operating without catholyte or other supporting electrolyte. The cell design and operating conditions chosen provide for significantly greater operating efficiency.