System and methods of water electrolysis

Abstract

Provided herein are methods for cleaning a diaphragm and/or membrane in an electrolysis system. For example, provided herein is a method of chemically cleaning a diaphragm and/or membrane comprising immersing the diaphragm and/or membrane in an acidic medium, immersing the diaphragm and/or membrane in a weak alkaline medium, and rinsing the diaphragm and/or membrane with deionized water. Also provided herein is a method of electrochemically cleaning a diaphragm and/or membrane comprising reversing the direction of current applied across the diaphragm and/or membrane, applying a cathodic current to the electrolyte solution, applying an anodic current to the electrolyte solution, rinsing the diaphragm and/or membrane with deionized water, and removing deposits from the electrolyte solution. Also provided herein is a method of mechanically cleaning a diaphragm and/or membrane comprising applying a voltage across the diaphragm and/or membrane that is higher than the normal operating voltage, and mechanically agitating the electrolyte solution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.