Method and apparatus for capacitive deionization and electrochemical purification and regeneration of electrodes

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872523

Farmer, Joseph C ^[1]

---

1. Tracy, CA

An electrically regeneratable electrochemical cell (30) for capacitive deionization and electrochemical purification and regeneration of electrodes includes two end plates (31, 32), one at each end of the cell (30). Two end electrodes (35, 36) are arranged one at each end of the cell (30), adjacent to the end plates (31, 32). An insulator layer (33) is interposed between each end plate (31, 32) and the adjacent end electrode (35, 36). Each end electrode (35, 36) includes a single sheet (44) of conductive material having a high specific surface area and sorption capacity. In one embodiment, the sheet (44) of conductive material is formed of carbon aerogel composite. The cell (30) further includes a plurality of generally identical double-sided intermediate electrodes (37-43) that are equidistally separated from each other, between the two end electrodes (35, 36). As the electrolyte enters the cell, it flows through a continuous open serpentine channel (65-71) defined by the electrodes, substantially parallel to the surfaces of the electrodes. By polarizing the cell (30), ions are removed from the electrolyte and are held in the electric double layers formed at the carbon aerogel surfaces of the electrodes. As the cell (30) is saturated with the removed ions, the cell (30) is regenerated electrically, thus significantly minimizing secondary wastes.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5954937
• OSTI ID: 872523
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
capacitive
deionization
electrochemical
purification
regeneration
electrodes
electrically
regeneratable
cell
30
plates
31
32
35
36
arranged
adjacent
insulator
layer
33
interposed
plate
electrode
single
sheet
44
conductive
material
specific
surface
sorption
capacity
embodiment
formed
carbon
aerogel
composite
plurality
identical
double-sided
intermediate
37-43
equidistally
separated
electrolyte
enters
flows
continuous
serpentine
channel
65-71
defined
substantially
parallel
surfaces
polarizing
removed
held
electric
double
layers
saturated
regenerated
significantly
minimizing
secondary
wastes
specific surface
insulator layer
conductive material
electrochemical cell
carbon aerogel
double layer
substantially parallel
capacitive deionization
aerogel composite
layers formed
secondary wastes
serpentine channel
sorption capacity
electrochemical purification
electric double
secondary waste
/205/204/