Independent production of electrolyzed acidic water and electrolyzed basic water

A method for producing an electrolyzed basic water stream, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus comprising an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and a membrane separating the anode and cathode thereby providing an anode portion of the electrochemical cell and a cathode portion of the electrochemical cell;
• supplying a feed stream comprising water and sodium carbonate to the electrochemical cell and electrolyzing said feed stream to produce an electrolyzed acidic water stream in the anode portion of the electrochemical cell and an electrolyzed basic water product stream in the cathode portion of the electrochemical cell;
• and
• supplying said electrolyzed acidic water stream to an acid recirculation tank, said acid recirculation tank being fluidly connected to said feed stream, wherein said electrolyzed acidic water is combined with the feed stream and supplied to the electrochemical cell;
• and
• collecting a product stream comprising the electrolyzed basic water.

An apparatus suitable for the independent production of an electrolyzed acidic water stream and an electrolyzed basic water stream, the apparatus comprising:

• an electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, a membrane positioned between the anode and cathode thereby providing an anode portion and cathode portion of the electrochemical cell, a first input for receiving an anode feed stream to the anode portion of the electrochemical cell, a second input for receiving a cathode feed stream to the cathode portion of the electrochemical cell, an anode output for supplying an electrolyzed acidic water product stream from the anode of the electrochemical cell, and a cathode output for supplying an electrolyzed basic water product stream from the cathode of the electrochemical cell;
• a water supply tank;
• an acid recirculation tank, said acid recirculation tank comprising a first recirculation tank input for receiving a sodium carbonate containing solution, a second recirculation tank input for optionally receiving a portion of an electrolyzed acidic water product stream, a third recirculation tank input for receiving water from the water supply tank, and a recirculation tank output for supplying a feed stream comprising water and sodium carbonate to the first input of the electrochemical cell;
• a blending tank, said blending tank comprising blending tank input for receiving a basic electrolyzed water product stream, a first blending tank output for supplying a portion of the basic electrolyzed water product stream to the second electrochemical cell input, and a second blending tank output for supplying an electrolyzed basic water product stream;
• a first water supply line fluidly connected to the acid recirculation tank;
• a second water supply line fluidly connected to the electrochemical cell, wherein water can be selectively supplied the first and second electrochemical cell inputs;
• a first three-way valve fluidly connecting the recirculation tank output and first blending tank output with the second water supply line;
• and
• a second three-way valve for controlling flow of the anode output to the acid recirculation tank and an acidic water bulk storage tank.