System and method for modifying pH in an aqueous environment
AssigneeGenesee Valley Innovations, LLC
InventorsKrishnan Thyagarajan, Stephen Matthew Meckler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes an aqueous salt solution feed stream having a first pH and an electrochemical device positioned proximate an aqueous restoration area. The electrochemical device may receive the feed stream and convert it the feed stream to an acid stream and a base stream having respective predetermined pH values. A first effluent stream comprises the base stream, wherein the first effluent stream has a second pH that is higher than the first pH. The first effluent stream is delivered proximate the aqueous restoration area. A second effluent stream comprises the acid stream, wherein the second effluent stream has a third pH that is lower than the second pH.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- an aqueous salt solution feed stream having a first pH;
- an electrochemical device positioned proximate an aqueous restoration area and configured to receive the aqueous salt solution feed stream and convert the aqueous salt solution feed stream to an acid stream and a base stream having respective predetermined pH values, wherein the electrochemical device is a bipolar membrane electrochemical device;
- a first effluent stream comprising the base stream, wherein the first effluent stream has a second pH that is higher than the first pH and the first effluent stream is delivered proximate the aqueous restoration area without recombining with the acid stream prior to release;
- a second effluent stream comprising the acid stream, wherein the second effluent stream has a third pH that is lower than the second pH and is directed to a storage unit containing one or more minerals that react with the acid stream to increase a pH of the acid stream before any discharge to a body of water;
- and
- a controller coupled to a pH sensor proximate the aqueous restoration area and configured to adjust at least one of applied electrical potential and flow to maintain a local pH within a predetermined range.
A method comprising:
- flowing a feed stream of an aqueous salt solution having a first pH into an electrochemical device submerged in a body of water, wherein the electrochemical device is a bipolar membrane electrochemical device;
- applying an electrical potential to first and second electrodes of the electrochemical device;
- in response to applying the electrical potential, separating the feed stream into an acid stream and a base stream having respective predetermined pH values;
- sensing a local pH with a pH sensor proximate an aqueous restoration area;
- in response to the sensed local pH, adjusting at least one of applied electrical potential and flow to maintain the local pH within a predetermined range;
- outputting the base stream proximate an aqueous restoration area without recombining with the acid stream prior to release to increase water pH values proximate the aqueous restoration area and initiate restoration activity;
- and
- outputting the acid stream to a storage unit containing one or more minerals that react with the acid stream to increase a pH of the acid stream before any discharge to a body of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.