Large capacity acid or base generation apparatus and method of use

A method of generating a base comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a cation source in a cation source reservoir,
• (b) flowing an aqueous liquid stream through a first base generation chamber separated from said cation source reservoir by a first barrier substantially preventing liquid flow while providing a cation transport bridge,
• (c) applying an electric potential between an anode in electrical communication with said cation source reservoir containing substantially non-flowing aqueous liquid and a cathode in electrical communication with said first base generation chamber to electrolytically generate hydroxide ions in said first base generation chamber and to cause cations in said cation source reservoir to migrate toward said first barrier and to be transported across said first barrier toward said cathode to combine with said transported cations to form cation hydroxide, and
• (d) removing the cation hydroxide in an aqueous liquid stream as an effluent from said first base generation chamber.

A method of generating an acid comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an anion source in an anion source reservoir,
• (b) flowing an aqueous liquid stream through a first acid generation chamber separated from said anion source reservoir by a first barrier substantially preventing liquid flow while providing an anion transport bridge,
• (c) applying an electric potential between a cathode in electrical communication with said anion source reservoir and an anode in electrical communication with said first acid generation chamber to electrolytically generate hydronium ions in said first acid generation chamber and to cause anions in said anion source reservoir to migrate toward said first barrier and to be transported across said first barrier toward said anode to combine with said transported anions to form acid, said first acid generation chamber being pressurized and the pressure maintained in said first acid generation chamber being at least about 2 times any pressure maintained in said anion source reservoir, and
• (d) removing the acid in an aqueous liquid stream as an effluent from said first acid generation chamber.

A method of generating an acid comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an anion source in an anion source reservoir,
• (b) flowing an aqueous liquid stream through a first acid generation chamber separated from said anion source reservoir by a first barrier substantially preventing liquid flow while providing an anion transport bridge,
• (c) applying an electric potential between a cathode in electrical communication with said anion source reservoir containing substantially non-flowing aqueous liquid and an anode in electrical communication with said first acid generation chamber to electrolytically generate hydronium ions in said first acid generation chamber and to cause anions in said anion source reservoir to migrate toward said first barrier and to be transported across said first barrier toward said anode to combine with said transported anions to form acid, and
• (d) removing the acid in an aqueous liquid stream as an effluent from said first acid generation chamber.