Abstract: The invention provides a method of converting nitrogen into ammonia. The method comprises contacting an electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of dissolved nitrogen gas. The electrocatalyst comprises carbon nanospikes doped with nitrogen.

Abstract: Bismuth-based, chloride-storage electrodes and rechargeable electrochemical cells incorporating the chloride-storage electrodes are provided. Also provided are methods for making the electrodes and methods for using the electrochemical cells to remove chloride ions from a sample. The chloride-storage electrodes, which are composed of bismuth metal, can store chloride ions in their bulk by forming BiOCl via an oxidation reaction with bismuth in the presence of an oxygen source.

Abstract: A bioelectrochemical system device may be used to enhance groundwater pollutant chemical removal or degradation. Such a bioelectrochemical system may be inserted into the environment to be remediated through a variety of techniques, such as through insertion into wells or other access points, trench insertion, direct insertion, borehole insertion, or combinations thereof. In some aspects, the bioelectrochemical system device may have a hollow-tube configuration with an outer ring anode and inner ring cathode. In further aspects, the bioelectrochemical system device may have a modular form that can be combined with multiple other modules such one or more bioelectrochemical system devices.

Abstract: Methods for improving ion flux and energy efficiency in a membrane stack of an electrodialysis unit wherein the membrane stack is disposed between an anode and a cathode each in an electrolyte of a selected concentration. Methods include increasing the concentration of the electrolyte, adding a strong base to the electrolyte and adding buffering anions to the electrolyte. Methods for cleaning the electrodes of such a unit involving involve applying a pulsed polarity reversal to the electrodes. Also provided are methods for improving unit operation by increasing the basicity of the electrolyte to the anode and increasing the acidity of the electrolyte to the cathode or alternatively or in addition, by applying heat to increase the operating temperature of at least one of the electrolyte and the treated water stream.

Abstract: Water treatment systems including electrically-driven and pressure-driven separation apparatus configured to produce a first treated water suitable for use as irrigation water and a second treated water suitable for use as potable water from brackish water and methods of operation of same.

Abstract: An element recovery method and an element recovery apparatus are provided by which an element containing a high-purity rare earth element can be recovered at low cost. The element recovery method includes the steps of: preparing molten salt containing a rare earth element; and controlling electric potentials in a pair of electrode members at prescribed values while keeping the pair of electrode members in contact with the molten salt, thereby depositing the rare earth element existing in the molten salt on one of the pair of electrode members. In this way, as compared with the conventional wet separation method, an element such as a rare earth element that is to be recovered can be directly recovered from the molten salt in which the element is dissolved, so that the steps of the recovery method can be simplified and reduced in cost.

Abstract: The polarized electrode flow through capacitor comprises at least one each electrode material, with a pore volume that includes meso and micropores, with contained anionic or cationic groups. The polarized electrodes are in opposite polarity facing pairs, separated by a flow path or flow spacer. Both polarities of the particular attached ionic groups used are ionized at the working pH or composition of the particular feed solution supplied to inlet of the flow through capacitor. The contained groups cause the electrodes to be polarized so that they are selective to anions or cations. The polarized electrode flow through capacitor has better performance compared to identical flow through capacitors made from non-derivitized carbon. The capacitor electrode materials so derivitized provide this polarization function directly without need for a separate charge barrier material.

Abstract: An electrochemical system having an electrochemical compressor with an operating voltage that is controlled by a controller is described. The operating voltage between a first and second electrodes separated by an ion conducting material, such as a proton conducting polymer, may be oscillated in a waveform. The controller may reduce the voltage to low pressure side of the electrochemical compressor to initiate electrolysis for a set time interval and then may change the operating voltage to operate the electrochemical cell in a compressor mode. When the electrochemical cell is operating in an electrolysis mode, in situ hydrogen is produced on the low pressure side that may be used as a electrochemically active component of the working fluid when the electrochemical cell is switched to a compressor mode. The controller may have a control program that automatically controls the operating waveform as a function of sensor input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elongate microreactor (1) for desalinating a saline fluid (2), comprising at least one compartment (C1) for migrating ions, at least one compartment (C2) for separating ions and at least one compartment (C3) for collecting fluid, characterized in that first and second cathode electrodes (11A, 11B) and first and second anode electrodes (12A, 12B) each have a first surface (11F, 11G, 12F, 12G) that is in contact with the air and a second surface (11E, 11H, 12E, 12H) opposite said first surface, respectively, said second surface being in direct contact with a plastic wall (13B, 13C, 13A, 13D) that is in direct contact with the saline fluid.

Abstract: A method reuses produced water resulting from a fossil fuel extraction operation. The method includes providing the produced water as an input to an electrodialysis system. The method also includes running the electrodialysis system to produce a diluate and a concentrate. The diluate is contaminated so as to have a conductivity of no less than 0.1 Siemens/meter. The method also includes reformulating the diluate to produce fossil fuel extraction fluid. The method also includes using the produced fossil fuel extraction fluid in the fossil fuel extraction operation. An electrodialysis system includes first and second stacks. The electrodialysis system also includes first and second voltage sources, coupled to the first and second stacks, so as to apply a first voltage to the first stack lower by at least about 10% than a second voltage to the second stack.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing silicon via a solid oxide membrane electrolysis process, including providing a crucible, providing a flux including silica within the crucible, providing a cathode in the crucible in electrical contact with the flux, and providing an anode disposed in the crucible spaced apart from the cathode and in electrical contact with the flux. The cathode includes a silicon-absorbing portion in fluid communication with the flux. The anode includes a solid oxide membrane around at least a portion of the anode. The method also includes generating an electrical potential between the cathode and anode sufficient to reduce silicon at an operating temperature, and cooling the silicon-absorbing portion to below the operating temperature, and precipitating out the silicon from the silicon-absorbing portion. The silicon-absorbing portion preferentially absorbs silicon, the silicon-absorbing portion is a liquid metal at the operating temperature, and the solid oxide membrane is permeable to oxygen.

Abstract: Water treatment systems including electrically-driven and pressure-driven separation apparatus configured to produce a first treated water suitable for use as irrigation water and a second treated water suitable for use as potable water from one of brackish water and seawater and methods of operation of same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical process for generating or recovering hydrochloric acid from metal salt solutions such as acidic metal salt solutions and saline solutions. The process is useful for treating acidic salt solutions that are waste products from mineral processing or other industrial processes such as metal finishing, water softening, water treatment, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, coal seam gas extraction, shale gas extraction and shale oil extraction, to generate high purity hydrochloric acid, metal salts and recycled water that may be re-used in the industrial process. An apparatus for performing the electrochemical process is also described.

Abstract: Water treatment systems including electrically-driven and pressure-driven separation apparatus configured to produce a first treated water suitable for use as irrigation water and a second treated water suitable for use as potable water from brackish or saline water and methods of operation of same.

Abstract: An electrodialytic buffer generator is described. The buffer generator may include a central buffer-generating channel having an inlet and outlet, a second chamber, and a third chamber. The buffer-generating channel, the second chamber, and the third chamber may each include an electrode. The buffer generator may also include a first ion exchange barrier and a second ion exchange barrier. The first ion exchange barrier can be disposed between the second chamber and the buffer-generating channel. The second ion exchange barrier can be disposed between the third chamber and the buffer-generating channel.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electric double layer capacitor electrochemical cylinder (11) made up of concentric layers of capacitors (16), current collectors (14a, 14b, 14c), ion specific membranes (18, 18a, 18b) and dielectric spacer (20) wrapped around an inner support tube (12) that can be used as a high capacitance capacitor and to remove dissolved solids from a liquid stream such as water, acid, aqueous or non-aqueous.

Abstract: Electrically-driven separation systems and methods for use in oil recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides electrodes for transferring a charge comprising a plurality of members for making electrical contact. The electrodes are suitable for treating aqueous, substantially aqueous and nonaqueous fluids including wastewater, solvents and gases. Water maybe treated using the electrodes to provide higher dissolved oxygen or lower levels of contaminants after treatment. Furthermore, the electrodes may be useful in precipitation reactions such as electrowinning methods. The electrodes may also be capable of altering biological characteristics of organisms such as algae and bacteria.

Abstract: There are provided processes comprising submitting an aqueous composition comprising lithium sulphate and/or bisulfate to an electrolysis or an electrodialysis for converting at least a portion of said sulphate into lithium hydroxide. During electrolysis or electrodialysis, the aqueous composition is at least substantially maintained at a pH having a value of about 1 to about 4; and converting said lithium hydroxide into lithium carbonate.

Abstract: A method which can efficiently produce ammonia at low temperature and low pressure and which can respond flexibly to an unsteady electrical power supply condition. In addition, a catalyst which is excellent in activity for synthesizing ammonia and which is used in a method for efficiently producing ammonia without regard to supply condition and supply location of electrical power. The method is characterized in that a reactor for synthesizing ammonia is used, and the reactor has a pair of electrodes, a voltage applying means for applying voltage between the electrodes, a catalyst between the electrodes, a raw material gas inlet port, and an ammonia-containing gas discharge port, and including introducing at least nitrogen and hydrogen as a raw material gas into the reactor for synthesizing ammonia, and applying a voltage to the electrodes of the reactor for synthesizing ammonia, wherein electrical discharge does not occur by the voltage.