Planar, flow-through, electric, double-layer capacitor and a method of treating liquids with the capacitor

A method of treating a feed fluid containing an ionic substance which comprises:

• a) providing a planar, flow-through, electric, double layer capacitor for the treating of an ionic-containing feed fluid and obtaining a treated fluid, which capacitor comprises:
• i) an electrically-insulating, separator sheet (1);
• ii) active carbon layers (2)(2), each comprising a high specific surface area of active carbon of greater than about 1000 B.E.T. as a main component, and disposed externally on either side of the separator sheet;
• iii) porous electrode collector layers (3)(3), each comprising electrically conductive material and disposed externally on either side of said active carbon layers (2)(2), and in intimate electrical contact with each active carbon layer to form an anode and cathode electrode;
• iv) retaining plates (4)(4) disposed externally of said electrode collector layers (3)(3), to retain in uniform compaction the separator, active carbon layers and electrode collector layers together and to prevent the channeling of feed fluid therethrough;
• and
• v) inlet means (6) to introduce a feed fluid to be treated;
• and
• vi) outlet means (7) to withdraw the treated fluid;
• b) introducing the fluid into the inlet means (6) of the capacitor and applying a direct current, and constant voltage to said electrode collector layers (3)(3) to absorb ionic substances from the feed fluid on the active carbon layers (2)(2);
• c) withdrawing a treated fluid from the outlet means (7);
• d) short circuiting or reversing periodically the current or voltage to electrode connector layers (3)(3) of said capacitor to desorb ionic substances from the active carbon layers (2)(2);
• and
• e) withdrawing said desorbed ionic substances from the outlet means (7).