Methods for deionization of an aqueous fluid

A method for removing ions from an aqueous fluid in an electrochemical cell,

• said electrochemical cell comprising a first compartment comprising a first electrode, said first electrode comprising a conductive material and an intercalation material, wherein said electrochemical cell further comprises a second electrode, and wherein said electrochemical cell is configured to allow propagation of a current,
• the method comprising:
• a) directing an aqueous fluid through the electrochemical cell, thereby allowing contact between said aqueous fluid and said first electrode and second electrode;
• b) applying a current to the electrochemical cell, thereby
• allowing intercalation of cations present in the aqueous fluid into the intercalation material of the first electrode, and allowing removal of anions from the aqueous fluid present in the first compartment;
• or
• allowing intercalation of anions present in the aqueous fluid into the intercalation material of the first electrode, and allowing removal of cations from the aqueous fluid present in the first compartment;
• thereby forming a deionized aqueous fluid in the first compartment of the electrochemical cell;
• c) collecting the deionized aqueous fluid from the first compartment of the electrochemical cell;
• d) reverting the current, thereby releasing cations and anions into the first compartment of the electrochemical cell, thereby at least partly regenerating said first electrode and said second electrode, and forming an aqueous fluid enriched in ions into the first compartment of the electrochemical cell;
• wherein the voltage in the electrochemical cell, is between −1.23 V and 1.23 V and wherein the ratio between the electric current divided by the total weight of the first electrode and the second electrode and the conductivity of the aqueous fluid, when entering the electrochemical cell, is at least 1 to 25 mA·cm/S·g and
• wherein the difference between the average voltage in the electrochemical cell during step b) and the average voltage in the electrochemical cell during step d) is between 0.1 and 0.5 V.