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

US6309532A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Tri D. Tran · Willow View Lane, US
• Joseph C. Farmer · Tracy, US
• Laura Murguia · Manteca, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 12, 1999
• Grant date: Oct 30, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 12, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2030/8881
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

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). A new regeneration method is applied to the cell (30) which includes slowing or stopping the purification cycle, electrically desorbing contaminants and removing the desorbed contaminants. 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. The cell (30) is regenerated electrically to desorb such previously removed ions.