Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for recovering multiple kinds of ions, which includes: an ion adsorption tank that includes a plurality of adsorption channels arranged in parallel and including a first electrode unit electrically adsorbing only negative ions and a second electrode unit having an adsorbent layer for adsorbing positive ions to be recovered from positive ions, in which electricity is independently supplied to the adsorption channels; a water tank that keeps liquid discharged from the ion adsorption tank; a pump that circulates mother liquor or liquid stored in the water tank; and an ion recovering tank that keeps liquid containing positive ions to be recovered. According to the present disclosure, a series of processes make it possible to continuously recover ions to be recovered, so the operation efficiency of the system can be maximized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing the ionic strength or the concentration of certain polyvalent ions in aqueous dispersions of organic binding agents or inorganic solid bodies by electrodialysis, and a cell package suitable for use in the method. This method permits stabilization of aqueous compositions of the dispersed components by regulating the ionic strength or the concentration of certain polyvalent ions thereby increasing the durability and throughput times of coating baths. More particularly, the method is used in removing polyvalent metal cations from anionically stabilized aqueous binding agent dispersions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for anion exchange membranes and processes for their manufacture. The anion exchange membranes described herein are made the polymerization product of at least one functional monomer comprising a tertiary amine which is reacted with a quaternizing agent in the polymerization process.

Abstract: A method for making a resilient ion exchange membrane comprising polymerizing a composition containing at least an ionic surfactant monomer having an ethylenic group and a long hydrophobic alkyl group filling the pores of and covering the surfaces of a porous substrate. The hydrophobic long alkyl group in the ionic surfactant monomer provides ion exchange membranes with improved mechanical properties, and good chemical stability.

Abstract: An electrodialysis process and apparatus is presented for improving the current efficiency of salty water desalination. The process includes reducing the osmotic and the electro-osmotic flow of water from diluate compartments to concentrate compartments, and between electrode compartments and adjacent compartments, by confinement and hydraulic isolation of their contents in constant volume compartments, so that the tendency of waters entering from diluate compartments to concentrate compartments leads to pressure buildup in the concentrate compartments, reducing the transfer of product desalinated water to the concentrate waste.

Abstract: Ion Concentration Polarization (ICP) purification devices and methods for building massively-parallel implementations of the same, said devices being suitable for separation of salts, heavy metals and biological contaminants from source water.

Abstract: A liquid electrolyte can be desalinated and purified using a system that includes a first electrode and a configuration selected from (a) a second electrode and at least one distinct ion-selective boundary and (b) a second electrode that also serves as the ion-selective boundary. The ion-selective boundary is contained in the liquid conduit adjacent to a porous medium that defines pore channels filled with the liquid and that have a surface charge, and the charge of the ion-selective boundary and the surface charge of the pore channels share the same sign. A liquid including at least one charged species flows through the pore channels, forming a thin diffuse electrochemical double layer at an interface of the liquid and the charged surface of the pore channels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing the ionic strength or the concentration of certain polyvalent ions in aqueous dispersions of organic binding agents or inorganic solid bodies by electrodialysis, and a cell package suitable for use in the method. This method permits stabilization of aqueous compositions of the dispersed components by regulating the ionic strength or the concentration of certain polyvalent ions thereby increasing the durability and throughput times of coating baths. More particularly, the method is used in removing polyvalent metal cations from anionically stabilized aqueous binding agent dispersions.

Abstract: A desalination system is provided. The desalination system comprises a desalination apparatus. The desalination apparatus comprises first and second electrodes, and a first group of paired ion exchange membranes disposed between the first and second electrodes to form a first group of alternating first and second channels. The first channels are configured to receive a first stream for desalination and the second channels are configured to receive a second stream to carry away ions removed from the first stream, respectively. The desalination apparatus further comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between each pair of the adjacent ion exchange membranes and between the first and second electrodes and the respective ion exchange membranes. Wherein each of the ion exchange membranes in the first group is a cation exchange membrane. A desalination system and a method for removing ions from an aqueous stream area also presented.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for anion exchange membranes and processes for their manufacture. The anion exchange membranes described herein are made the polymerization product of at least one functional monomer comprising a tertiary amine which is reacted with a quaternizing agent in the polymerization process.

Abstract: An ion exchanger according to a non-limiting embodiment may include an open cell polymer support and a microporous polymer matrix charged within the open cell polymer support. The microporous polymer matrix includes an ion conductive polymer. The ion conductive polymer may be obtained by polymerizing monomers having at least one ion exchange functional group and at least one cross-linkable functional group with a cross-linking agent having at least two cross-linkable functional groups.

Abstract: A membrane enhanced deionized capacitor (MEDC) device, consisting of insulating plates (6,7) and a series of MEDC unit cells, is provided. The MEDC unit cell includes a cation and anion ion-exchange membranes (2,4), one pair of carbon electrodes (1-1,1-2), a spacer (3) and an insulating holder (5) and is assembled in the order of [(1-1)/(2)/(3)/(5)/(4)/(1-2)]. The cation-exchange membrane combined with one electrode is used as negative electrosorptive electrode while the anion-exchange membrane combined with another electrode is used as positive electrode. Unit cells can be connected with each other in series, or in parallel. The devices can be made as either stack type or roll type.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof in concentrating a species of interest and/or controlling liquid flow in a device. The methods make use of a device comprising a fluidic chip comprising a planar array of channels through which a liquid comprising a species of interest can be made to pass with at least one rigid substrate connected thereto such that at least a portion of a surface of the substrate bounds the channels, and a high aspect ratio ion-selective membrane is embedded within the chip, attached to at least a portion of the channels. The device comprises a unit to induce an electric field in the channel and a unit to induce an electrokinetic or pressure driven flow in the channel.

Abstract: Provided are fabrication, characterization and application of a nanodisk electrode, a nanopore electrode and a nanopore membrane. These three nanostructures share common fabrication steps. In one embodiment, the fabrication of a disk electrode involves sealing a sharpened internal signal transduction element (“ISTE”) into a substrate, followed by polishing of the substrate until a nanometer-sized disk of the ISTE is exposed. The fabrication of a nanopore electrode is accomplished by etching the nanodisk electrode to create a pore in the substrate, with the remaining ISTE comprising the pore base. Complete removal of the ISTE yields a nanopore membrane, in which a conical shaped pore is embedded in a thin membrane of the substrate.

Abstract: An electrical purification apparatus and methods of making same are disclosed. The electrical purification apparatus may provide for increases in operation efficiencies, for example, with respect to decreased residence times and higher purity water.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing electrodialysis at pressures greater than or equal to the ambient pressure is described. The apparatus includes an electrodialysis membrane stack and housing. The electrodialysis membrane stack includes at least one electrodialysis cell. The electrodialysis apparatus includes electrodes that apply voltage across the electrodialysis stack. The housing pressurizes the electrodialysis stack at a stack pressure. The housing includes a cell chamber that receives the electrodialysis stack, the cell chamber including at least one pressurization port communicating with the cell chamber such that a portion of electrode solution is transmittable into a region of the cell chamber outside the electrodialysis stack.

Abstract: In order to solve various problems such as a reduction in a paint resin with the progress of electrodeposition coating treatment and remelting of a coating film or the occurrence of pinholes caused by an increased concentration of an electrolyte as a result of the reduction, upsizing of a hollow electrode with a membrane for electrodeposition coating combined with a barrier membrane (e.g., an ion exchange membrane) and an increase in the number of components should be avoided. In order to realize this, a barrier membrane 20 such as an ion exchange membrane is attached to the exterior surface of an electrode main body 10, which is in a hollow state made of a conductive material and configured so as to allow a liquid to pass through freely between the inside and outside of the electrode serving as a support.

Abstract: We report an electro-deionization (EDI) device having split flow arrangement for the purification of second pass RO permeate water with high flow rate in which the feed water is fed through the center port and is diverted into each section of dilute chamber with equal flow rate, producing two product streams. The EDI device has concentrate chambers adjacent to dilute chambers in two sections of the stack, allowing independent flow through the separate sections. The split flow design reduces resin bed depth requirement for processing of second pass RO permeate water. This results in higher flow rate through the stack, elimination of the pressure drop limitation, and reduction of power consumption per unit volume of water.

Abstract: Electrochemical separation devices are configured for lower energy consumption. Techniques for reducing shadow effect may involve providing distance between a spacer screen and an adjacent ion-selective membrane. A spacer having a screen that is thin relative to a surrounding frame may be used. Mild pressure may also be applied to a compartment to promote distance between a spacer screen and an adjacent ion-selective membrane.

Abstract: A linear exchange element with functionalized polymer on a core of rope, twine or yarn has well defined physical structure and may function as a spacer or be formed into free-standing exchange elements. A screen is fabricated from such strands or strips, with a pattern of mixed, sequential or other exchange types for enhanced operation in a capture device or in an electrodialysis device. Strands possess tensile strength, enabling deionization devices of new architecture, such as fiber-wound cartridges and other packing arrangements. Bodies made of the strands may operate as walls to perform the function of an exchange membrane or bed, or may operate as spacers positioned between membranes to enhance ion capture and transport, and their properties simplify handling and regeneration. Electroseparation devices advantageously employ the open spacers to better treat food, fermentation product or other streams where high conductivity, suspended solids and fouling would otherwise present problems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for recovering gas produced during electrodialysis of a saline solution, from gas entrained in an electrolyte solution circulating through anode and cathode compartments of an electrodialysis (ED) unit. In one embodiment, the system provides separate catholyte and anolyte towers within a closed, re-circulating loop between the cathode and anode compartments. Each tower comprises an inlet at which the entrained gas separates from the electrolyte solution and flows into the headspace. One can recover residual gases from the electrolyte solution in one more additional apparatus. Preferably, hydrogen gas is separated from the catholyte solution and, more preferably, further purified for use as a fuel source in alternative power generating devices, such as a fuel cell or bio-fuel generator, useful in the unit operations of a water treatment system.

Abstract: A spacer element (1) is disclosed having an integral screen for use in filled cell electrodialysis. The spacer (1) has a continuous portion (2) impermeable to flow and a screen (3) which spans a centrally-located flow treatment region that contains active treatment material, such as ion exchange beads. The screen (3) may perform a structural function, allowing operation at elevated pressure, and may also define a minimum gap between adjacent membranes and enhance mixing along the flow path and at cell boundaries. The spacer element (1) may be configured to enhance hydraulic filling of the cells, and cell architecture is readily implemented in a wide range of useful flow path geometries utilizing the screen spacer element (1).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water are provided. A feed water such as seawater can be fed to a filter such as a microporous or nanofiltration membrane to produce a permeate that can, in turn, be fed to an electrodeionization system to produce fresh water.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electrophoresis device comprising a hole-containing structure and a method for fabricating the same. By which electrophoretic particles are embedded into holes, the optical properties of the device can be controlled. The electrophoresis device includes a structure having inherent optical properties, thus realizing improvement in reliability and display quality. Since the electrophoresis device uses a gas or vacuum as a medium of the electrophoretic particles, it can be driven with a high speed.

Abstract: An electrodialysis method and apparatus include a source of concentrate fluid, a source of dilute fluid, a collector of treated concentrate fluid, a collector of dilute fluid, an anode and a cathode. A plurality of generally planar spacers are interleaved with a plurality of membranes to define a plurality of cells providing electrically conductive fluid connection between the anode and the cathode. Each of the spacers comprises a gasket that defines a first aperture and a second aperture. Each of said first and second apertures define an independent cell between interleaved membranes. The symmetrical, multiple split cell spacer configuration channels fluid flow through two or more narrow and elongated paths. The split cell arrangement allows for operation of the stack in parallel or in series.

Abstract: Electrodialysis device endbox comprising a vertical electrode (7) and a selectively ion-permeable membrane (10) which is arranged vertically, facing the electrode, and separated from the latter by a vertical passage (19) Electrodialysis device comprising an alternation of selectively ion permeable vertical membranes (1, 2, 3) and dividers (4) between two endboxes (5), at least one of which is as defined hereinabove.

Abstract: The dilute support frame is made up of interphase longitude and latitude bars that preferably are hollow. The bars can be rectangular, rectangular with a rounded end, half-circular, triangular, polygonal or any combination thereof. The bars are sized to support the ion exchange resin in the dilute channel adjacent the concentrate membrane bag. The support frame also assures fluent water flow in the dilute channel. The support frames are arrayed on the membranes with interphase aisle to save the frame arrays and make water flow fluently. The membrane envelopes in turn with the support frames as both are preferably wound to form the cylinder module, and is covered by one plastic protecting net. This new type of support frame can assure fluent water flow in dilute channels and convenient resin filling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for purifying effluent wastewater utilizing electrophoretic cross-flow filtration and electrodeionization. The method first comprises filtering the water in a cross-flow direction with a filter membrane (120) in the presence of an electric field that is operative to drive suspended particles away from a surface of the filter membrane (120). The permeate (134) containing dissolved solids is next passed through a mixture (188) of at least one cation-exchange resin and at least one anion-exchange resin disposed between a cation-selective membrane (184) and an anion-selective membrane (181) in the presence of an electric field. The electric field drives cations in the permeate through the cation-selective membrane (184), and drives anions in the permeate through the anion-selective membrane (181), thereby to form deionized water (192). The apparatus includes cell modules adapted to be used in plate-and-frame or radial flow configurations.

Abstract: An electrodialysis method and apparatus include a source of concentrate fluid, a source of dilute fluid, a collector of treated concentrate fluid, a collector of dilute fluid, an anode and a cathode. A plurality of generally planar spacers are interleaved with a plurality of membranes to define a plurality of cells providing electrically conductive fluid connection between the anode and the cathode. Each of the spacers comprises a gasket that defines a first aperture and a second aperture. Each of said first and second apertures define an independent cell between interleaved membranes. The symmetrical, multiple split cell spacer configuration channels fluid flow through two or more narrow and elongated paths. The split cell arrangement allows for operation of the stack in parallel or in series.

Abstract: An electrodeionization apparatus and method of use includes an expanded conductive mesh electrode. The expanded conductive mesh electrode may be formed from any conductive material that is dimensionally stable and may be coated with conductive coating suitable for use in anode or cathode service. The expanded conductive mesh electrodes are formed by slitting a sheet of metal and pulling its sides in a direction perpendicular to the slits. The fabricated mesh may be flattened after stretching. The expanded conductive mesh electrodes typically have a diamond-shaped pattern of any size that provides support for an adjacent ion-permeable membrane while allowing an electrode or fluid stream to flow through. The mesh size typically has a long-wise dimension and a short-wise dimension. The conductive mesh electrode may also be placed against an endblock having fluid channels. These channels may be serpentine or parallel channels, which allow fluid flow to wash away any accumulation.

Abstract: The electrodeionization apparatus is improved in concentration polarization of the ingredients including ions in the concentrating compartment so as to obtain the produced water with high purity. The electrodeionization apparatus has a spacer composed of a mesh and a frame-shaped gaskets superposed on the periphery of the mesh. The mesh has a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm and the gaskets have thicknesses of equal to or less than 0.1 mm.

Abstract: The electrodeionization apparatus 3A has a plurality of cation exchange membrane and plurality of anion exchange membrane alternately arranged between electrodes in such a manner as to alternately form diluting compartments and concentrating compartments. The diluting compartments are filled with an ion exchanger. The product water having pH exceeding pH of the feed water by 1.0 or more when the feed water having pH of equal to or less than 8.5 is treated without adding alkaline agents. The apparatus for producing purified water has plural electrodeionization apparatuses 3A, 3B connected each other so that the feed water flows through the electrodeionization apparatuses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the current efficiency of suppressor and suppress-like pretreatment devices is disclosed for the purpose of suppressing a high concentration of eluent without the detrimental effects of excess heat generation. The method and apparatus may be used in ion chromatography.

Abstract: An apparatus and system of operation of an electrodialysis membrane and gasket stack for separation of components in liquid mixtures is disclosed. The system of operation for purification and deionizing liquids includes an operation of pretreatment by filtration for removal of inorganic contaminants, includes an operation of adsorption for removing organic contaminants by activated carbon adsorption, and includes an operation of deionizing for removing ions from the effluent liquids. The deionizing operation includes an apparatus having an electrodialysis stack of a plurality of ion exchange membranes and separating gaskets for selectively removing contaminant ions. The combination of treatment operations and the deionizing operation provides a continuous operating system with minimized down-time and improved efficiencies over prior methods for purification of liquid mixtures.

Abstract: An electrically driven membrane process apparatus is provided comprising a first spacer having a perimeter having a surface with an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, and a recess formed on the inner peripheral edge, and an ion exchange membrane having an outer edge fitted within the recess. The spacer can further comprise a plurality of bosses and an ion exchange membrane having a corresponding plurality of apertures for receiving the bosses. The spacer can include a plastic mesh consisting essentially of polypropylene or polyethylene, and a perimeter surrounding the plastic mesh, the perimeter comprising material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic elastomeric olefins. The spacer can have an upstanding seal member depending therefrom, received by groove within a corresponding frame member. A second spacer is also provided having a continuous flange depending from its surface and surrounding a throughbore, for pinching a portion of the first spacer.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymeric netting for use as an ion-conducting ser in an electrodialysis stack having charged groups incorporated in a in polymeric coating applied thereto, imparting to the spacer an average ion exchange capacity of at least 0.25 meq/gr.

Abstract: An integral, monolithic frame-membrane is disclosed, such frame-membrane having a semi-permeable membrane portion and integral therewith a frame portion, the frame portion having one or more cavities, each cavity juxtaposed to the membrane portion, each cavity having at least one fluid entrance conduit communicating with an entrance manifold aperture and at least one fluid exit conduit communicating with an exit manifold aperture. The integral, monolithic frame-membrane may be used in apparatus for carrying out gas-separation; microfiltration; ultrafiltration; nanofiltration; reverse osmosis (i.e. hyperfiltration); diffusion dialysis; Donnan dialysis; electrodialysis (including filled-cell electrodialysis; i.e. electrodeionization); pervaporation; piezodialysis; membrane distillation; osmosis; thermo osmosis; and electrolysis with membranes.