Electrochemical processing system

A method for removing selected material from a first solution containing the same comprising:

• passing said first solution through an electrochemical cell in contact with one side of a porous membrane under conditions such that at least a portion of said selected material reacts to form a first product which is deposited onto said one side;
• passing said first product through said membrane to the other side thereof;
• contacting said first product with a second solution in contact with said other side under conditions such that said first product reacts to form a second product;
• and,
• stripping said second product from said other side;
• wherein said porous membrane comprises a porous bi-polar electrode, maintaining one side of said porous bi-polar electrode at a first predetermined electrical potential versus a reference electrode in said first solution, maintaining the other side of said porous bi-polar electrode at a second predetermined electrical potential versus a reference electrode in said second solution, while fixing said porous bi-polar electrode at ground.

A method for electrochemically removing metal ions from an aqueous solution containing same, said method comprising the steps of:

• passing said aqueous solution through an electrochemical cell in contact with one side of a porous membrane under conditions such that at least a portion of said metal ions are stripped out of said solution and are deposited as metal on said one side;
• diffusing said deposited metal through said porous membrane into the other side thereof;
• and,
• stripping said diffused metal from said other side as ions into a second solution in contact with said other side;
• wherein said porous membrane comprises a porous bi-polar electrode, maintaining one side of said porous bi-polar electrode at a first predetermined electrical potential versus a reference electrode in said first solution, maintaining the other side of said porous bi-polar electrode at a second predetermined electrical potential versus a reference electrode in said second solution, while fixing said porous bi-polar electrode at ground.

An electrochemical process for removing metal ions from an aqueous solution, comprising:

• (a) providing a first aqueous solution containing said metal ions in a first electrochemical cell having a first counter electrode and a first reference electrode, and maintaining an electrical potential between said first counter and first reference electrodes;
• (b) providing a second aqueous solution of an electrolyte in a second electrochemical cell having a second counter electrode and a second reference electrode, and maintaining an electrical potential between said second counter and second reference electrodes;
• (c) maintaining said first and second electrochemical cells and the solutions therein in electrical contact through a porous, bi-polar electrode electrically connected to ground;
• (d) establishing a negative electrochemical potential relative to said porous, bi-polar electrode in said first electrochemical cell;
• (e) establishing a positive electrochemical potential relative to said porous, bi-polar electrode in said second electrochemical cell;
• (f) stripping said metal ions from said first aqueous solution and depositing the ions thus stripped on one side of said porous, bi-polar electrode;
• and
• (g) stripping said ions thus deposited from the other side of said porous, bi-polar electrodes as ions into said aqueous solution.