Method and apparatus for capacitive deionization and electrochemical purification and regeneration of electrodes

An electrochemical cell for capacitively deionizing a fluid, comprising:

• at least two electrodes including an electrosorptive medium having a high specific surface area and sorption capacity, formed on one or more surfaces of said at least two electrodes;
• each of said at least two electrodes including at least one aperture;
• and
• each pair of adjacent electrodes forming an open channel adapted to fluidly communicate with a subsequent open channel via said at least one aperture to allow the fluid to flow through the cell in a serpentine path.

An electrochemical cell comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes separated by a plurality of porous separators interposed between adjacent electrodes;
• each of said plurality of electrodes including an electrosorptive medium having a high specific surface area and sorption capacity;
• each of said plurality of separators defining an open fluid channel between two adjacent electrodes;
• and said plurality of electrodes and separators being rolled spirally together for allowing a free, unobstructed flow of fluid in said channel across said electrosorptive medium and to exit the cell.

An adjacent pair of electrodes, a first electrode and a second electrode of said pair each comprising:

• a structural support member;
• a conductive layer formed on at least one surface of said support member;
• a sheet of high specific surface area electrosorptive medium secured to said conductive layer;
• and said support member including at least one aperture for allowing a fluid to flow through the electrode and across said sheet;
• and wherein at least one of said at least one aperture of said first electrode is not capable of coalignment with at least one of said at least one aperture of said second electrode.

An electrode comprising:

• a partly hollow first peripheral support member defining a first opening;
• and a first cartridge fitting, at least partially, within said first opening, and including:
• a porous conductive refill member;
• and a sheet of high specific surface area electrosorptive medium secured to said at least one surface of said refill member.

A tea bag electrode comprising:

• a closed dielectric porous bag;
• an electrically conductive powder material constrained within and restrained by said bag;
• and a conductor extending inside said bag in contact with said conductive powder material and providing no constraint and no restraint for said conductive powder material;
• said conductor and said bag being independent elements of said electrode.

A chromatograph for the analysis, treatment and processing of a fluid containing a variety of species including anions and cations, the chromatograph comprising in combination:

• a first electrically conductive monolithic slab electrode, serving as a cathode, with a first serpentine flow path formed therein;
• a second electrically conductive monolithic slab electrode, serving as an anode, with a second serpentine flow path formed therein which matches the first serpentine flow path;
• a dielectric seal having a serpentine opening therein which matches the first and second serpentine flow paths;
• wherein the first and second slab electrodes are stacked together with the dielectric seal therebetween to form an enclosed serpentine flow channel;
• an electrosorptive medium having a high specific surface area and sorption capacity in a base portion of the first and second serpentine flow paths.

An electrochemical intensifier for enhancing the ionic concentration in a fluid stream, comprising:

• a cell including at least two electrodes that are polarized to simultaneously draw and store ions present in a fluid flowing therethrough;
• each of said electrodes being formed of an electrosorptive medium having a high specific surface area and sorption capacity;
• an excitation source for exciting ions accumulated on the electrodes;
• a detector for detecting a signal produced by the excited ions.

A method for operating an electrochemical cell comprising:

• placing a tea bag electrode into a container of ionic fluid, said electrode comprising:
• a closed dielectric porous bag;
• an electrically conductive powder material constrained within and restrained by said bag;
• and a conductor extending inside said bag in contact with said conductive powder material and providing no constraint or restraint for said conductive powder material;
• said conductor and said bag being independent elements of said electrode;
• electrically charging said conductor as a cathode and said container as an anode;
• electrosorbing anions from said ionic fluid onto said conductive powder material and capturing the electrosorbed anions in said bag;
• and
• removing said bag from said ionic fluid when a desired ionic concentration of said electrosorbed anions is reached.