Water desalination/purification and bio-agent preconcentration by ion concentration polarization

A method of purifying and/or concentrating a first water stream containing ionic impurities comprising:

• a. directing the water stream in a channel comprising an inlet and an outlet and defined, at least in part by two juxtaposed ion exchange membranes, wherein the ion exchange membranes are characterized by the same charge,
• b. applying an electric field across the water stream channel;
• whereby, an ion depletion zone (dde) comprising a purified water stream and an ion enrichment zone (den) comprising a concentrated ion aqueous stream are generated and ions are transferred through the ion exchange membranes;
• wherein the electric field creates a boundary layer comprising at least one electroconvective vortex proximal to at least one of the two juxtaposed ion exchange membranes;
• and
• collecting the purified water stream and/or the concentrated ion aqueous stream.

A method of purifying and/or concentrating a first water stream containing ionic impurities comprising:

• a. directing the water stream in a channel comprising an inlet and an outlet and defined, at least in part by two juxtaposed ion exchange membranes, wherein the ion exchange membranes are characterized by the same charge,
• b. applying an electric field across the water stream channel;
• whereby, an ion depletion zone (dde) comprising a purified water stream and an ion enrichment zone (den) comprising a concentrated ion aqueous stream are generated and ions are transferred through the ion exchange membranes and wherein the electric field is created by an electrode and a ground each located external and parallel to the channel;
• and
• c. collecting the purified water stream and/or the concentrated ion aqueous stream.