Apparatus and process for separation and selective recomposition of ions

A process for the separation and selective recombination of oppositely charged ions from two different electrolyte solutions, the process comprising:

• a) providing a first input electrolyte solution in a first insulated container and a second input electrolyte solution in a second insulated container, each input electrolyte solution comprising an equal amount of positive and negative ions, the first electrolyte solution including an electrode made of materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon aerogel, and carbon aerogel composites, the second electrolyte solution including a metallic electrode allowing for occurrence of electrode reactions in the second electrolyte solution;
• b) generating a positively charged ion stream and a negatively charged ion stream from the first electrolyte solution by applying an electric current to the electrode in the first electrolyte solution;
• c) generating a negatively charged ion stream and a gas stream from the second electrolyte solution by applying an electric current to the metallic electrode;
• d) creating positively charged hydrated hydrogen ions by ionizing the gas stream from the second electrolyte solution in a reactor device comprising an ionizing electrode closely spaced adjacent a proton exchange membrane;
• and
• e) selectively combining the positive ion stream from the first electrolyte solution with the negative ion stream from the second input electrolyte solution, and the negative ion stream from the first input electrolyte solution with the positively charged gas hydrated hydrogen ions from the second input electrolyte solution.