Selective removal of scale-forming ions for water softening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021061683-A1
Application number	US-202016929445-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2020
Priority date	Aug 30, 2019
Publication date	Mar 4, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Use of porous carbon aerogel materials as capacitive deionization (CDI) electrodes to selectively remove scale forming divalent ions (e.g., Mg, Ca) from “hard” waters. A first electrode and/or a second electrode are made from activated carbon with graphite current collectors. A non-conductive, electrolyte permeable paper or polymer membrane separator is sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode.

First claim

1 . Apparatus for water softening, comprising:
a first electrode conductor having first pores; a second electrode conductor having second pores; a separator between said first electrode conductor having first pores and said second electrode conductor having second pores, a voltage system for applying a voltage to said first electrode conductor and said second electrode conductor; and channels for directing the water into said first pores said second pores.

2 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated carbon.

3 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material.

4 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel monoliths.

5 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said second electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material.

6 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material with graphite current collectors.

7 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material with graphite current collectors.

8 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said first electrode conductor is a hierarchical carbon aerogel monolith.

9 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 wherein said separator is a non-conductive, electrolyte permeable paper or polymer material.

10 . The apparatus for water softening of claim 1 further comprising header plates wherein said first electrode and said second electrode are sandwiched between said header plates.

11 . A method of water softening, comprising the steps of:
providing a first electrode conductor having first pores, providing a second electrode conductor having second pores, providing a separator, sandwiching said separator between said first electrode conductor and said second electrode conductor, providing headers around said first electrode conductor and said second electrode conductor, and providing channels that direct the water to said first electrode conductor and said second electrode conductor.

12 . The method of water softening of claim 11 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material.

13 . The method of water softening of claim 11 wherein said second electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material.

14 . The method of water softening of claim 11 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material with graphite current collectors.

15 . The method of water softening of claim 11 wherein said first electrode conductor is made of activated hierarchical carbon aerogel material with graphite current collectors.

16 . The method of water softening of claim 11 wherein said first electrode conductor is a hierarchical carbon aerogel monolith.

17 . The method of water softening of claim 11 wherein said second electrode conductor is a hierarchical carbon aerogel monolith.

18 . The method of water softening of claim 11 wherein said separator is a non-conductive, electrolyte permeable paper or polymer material.

19 . The method of water softening of claim 11 further comprising header plates wherein said first electrode and said second electrode are sandwiched between said header plates.

20 . Apparatus, systems, and methods for water softening, comprising:
use of porous carbon aerogel materials as capacitive deionization (CDI) electrodes to selectively remove scale forming divalent ions (e.g., Mg, Ca) from “hard” waters.

Assignees

• L Livermore Nat Security Llc

Inventors

• Campbell Patrick G
• Cerón Hernández Maira R
• Hawks Steven A
• Pham Tuan Anh
• Stadermann Michael

Classifications

• C02F1/4602

  for prevention or elimination of deposits · CPC title

• C02F2001/46133

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• C02F1/4691 Primary

  Capacitive deionisation · CPC title

• C02F5/00

  Softening water; Preventing scale; Adding scale preventatives or scale removers to water, e.g. adding sequestering agents (softening using ion-exchange C02F1/42) · CPC title

• C02F2101/10

  Inorganic compounds · CPC title