Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, systems and methods are provided for producing hydrogen and oxygen gases by water hydrolysis, which include: a vessel having a first chamber and a second chamber; a membrane permeable to water ions, the membrane separating the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the membrane is effective to substantially exclude passage of salt ions, and wherein the membrane is optionally permeable to water; an anode in contact with an anolyte in the first chamber; a cathode in contact with a catholyte in the second chamber; and a power source of direct current operably linked to the cathode and the anode; wherein the anolyte comprises a negative ion inert to oxidation and further wherein the catholyte is a saline solution, brackish water, or seawater.

Abstract: A method of providing fouling control in a membrane system includes generating a sacrificial protective layer (PL) on a surface of a membrane of the membrane system by coating the membrane with at least one polyelectrolyte layer, removing the PL from the membrane with a saline solution after the PL is fouled, and regenerating a new PL on the surface of the membrane by coating the membrane with at least one polyelectrolyte layer such that foulants present in a feed water accumulate on the PL, rather than on the membrane. The method further comprises one or more of the following: a) the saline solution is being applied with a shear force; b) the pH value of the saline solution is substantially neutral; c) the saline solution is non-toxic; d) the PL is removed without a backwash; e) the PL is not an active filtration layer, wherein a pore size of the PL is greater than a pore size of the membrane; and/or f) the PL is not disposed in pores of the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reaction chamber and an exterior of the reaction chamber; exoelectrogenic bacteria disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber; an aqueous medium having a pH in the range of 3-9, inclusive, the aqueous medium including an organic substrate oxidizable by exoelectrogenic bacteria and the medium disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber. An inventive apparatus further includes an anode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber; and a brush or mesh cathode including stainless steel, nickel or titanium, the cathode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reaction chamber and an exterior of the reaction chamber; exoelectrogenic bacteria disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber; an aqueous medium having a pH in the range of 3-9, inclusive, the aqueous medium including an organic substrate oxidizable by exoelectrogenic bacteria and the medium disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber. An inventive apparatus further includes an anode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber; and a brush or mesh cathode including stainless steel, nickel or titanium, the cathode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery systems and methods of their use to produce electricity are provided according to aspects described herein in which ammonia is added into an anolyte to charge the battery, producing potential between the electrodes. At the anode, metal corrosion occurs in the ammonia solution to form an amine complex of the corresponding metal, while reduction of the same metal occurs at the cathode. After the discharge of electrical power produced, ammonia is separated from the anolyte which changes the former anolyte to catholyte, and previous anode to cathode by deposition of the metal. When ammonia is added to the former catholyte to make it as anolyte, the previous cathode becomes the anode. This alternating corrosion/deposition cycle allows the metal of the electrodes to be maintained in closed-loop cycles, and waste heat energy is converted to electricity by regeneration of ammonia, such as by distillation.

Abstract: Thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery systems and methods of their use to produce electricity are provided according to aspects described herein in which ammonia is added into an anolyte to charge the battery, producing potential between the electrodes. At the anode, metal corrosion occurs in the ammonia solution to form an ammine complex of the corresponding metal, while reduction of the same metal occurs at the cathode. After the discharge of electrical power produced, ammonia is separated from the anolyte which changes the former anolyte to catholyte, and previous anode to cathode by deposition of the metal. When ammonia is added to the former catholyte to make it as anolyte, the previous cathode becomes the anode. This alternating corrosion/deposition cycle allows the metal of the electrodes to be maintained in closed-loop cycles, and waste heat energy is converted to electricity by regeneration of ammonia, such as by distillation.

Abstract: According to aspects described herein, methods and systems provided by the present invention for hydrogen gas production include a RED stack including one or more RED subunits, and use of a saline material including a heat regenerable salt. The salinity driven energy, provided by the one or more RED subunits, completely eliminates the need for an external power source to produce hydrogen gas.

Abstract: An electronic circuit to increase voltages from one or more energy sources. The electronic circuit can include a first set of capacitors and a second set of capacitors, and a first set of switches associated with the first set of capacitors and a second set of switches associated with the second set of capacitors. Also included is at least one energy source and an external load. The first and second set of capacitors, first and second set of switches, the at least one energy source, and the external load are arranged and connected such that the first set of capacitors is connected to the at least one energy source in parallel while the second set of capacitors is connected to the external load in series, and vice versa.

Abstract: Devices for production of electricity and/or hydrogen gas are provided by the present invention. In particular, microbial fuel cells for production of electricity and modified microbial fuel cells for production of hydrogen are detailed. A tube cathode is provided which includes a membrane forming a general tube shape. An anode is provided which has a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/m3. In addition, the anode is substantially non-toxic to anodophilic bacteria. Combinations of particular anodes and cathodes are included in microbial fuel cells and modified microbial fuel cells.

Abstract: According to aspects described herein, methods and systems provided by the present invention for hydrogen gas production include a RED stack including one or more RED subunits, and use of a saline material including a heat regenerable salt. The salinity driven energy, provided by the one or more RED subunits, completely eliminates the need for an external power source to produce hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A new method of treating water to remove perchlorate contaminant is disclosed. Water is fed through a filter bed containing perchlorate-reducing microorganisms. The microorganisms reduce the perchlorate, thereby decontaminating the water. An oxidizable substrate serves as an electron donor to the microorganisms. The invention results in safe to undetectable levels of perchlorate in the treated water.