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US 2008/0289950 A1Published application
Charge barrier flow-through capacitor-based method of deionizing a fluid
AssigneeBiosource, Inc.
InventorsMarc D. Andelman, Gregory S. Walker
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Abstract
Flow-through capacitors are provided with one or more charge barrier layers. Ions trapped in the pore volume of flow-through capacitors cause inefficiencies as these ions are expelled during the charge cycle into the purification path. A charge barrier layer holds these pore volume ions to one side of a desired flow stream, thereby increasing the efficiency with which the flow-through capacitor purifies or concentrates ions.
Claims7
A method of deionizing a fluid, said method comprising:
- (a) allowing a fluid containing ions to flow through a flow channel in fluid communication with at least two electrodes, wherein at least one of said electrodes comprises a pore structure such that said electrode is a porous electrode having a pore volume containing pore volume ions;
- (b) applying a voltage to said at least two electrodes to form a first electric field between said electrodes, whereby at least one of said electrodes has a capacitive charge;
- (c) allowing electrostatic absorption of ions from said fluid in said flow channel by said electrodes in said electric field, and allowing said porous electrode to expel at least a portion of said pore volume ions;
- and
- (d) allowing a second electric field, inverse to said first electric field, to exist between said flow channel and said porous electrode, whereby said expelled pore volume ions are retained within said second electric field.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.