Desalination with Carbon Aerogel Electrodes
Abstract
All electrically-regenerated electrosorption process known as carbon aerogel CDI has been developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for continuously removing ionic impurities from aqueous streams. A salt solution flows in an unobstructed channel formed by numerous pairs of parallel carbon aerogel electrodes. Each electrode has a very high BET surface area and very low electrical resistivity. BET surface areas of 1.3x10 to the 7th power ft2 per lb have been achieved with thermal activation. After polarization, anions and cations are removed from the electrolyte by the imposed electric field and electrosorbed onto the carbon aerogel. The solution is thus separated into two streams, concentrate and purified water. Based upon this analysis, it is concluded that carbon aerogel CDI may be an energy-efficient alternative to electrodialysis and reverse osmosis for the desalination of brackish water (less than or equal 5000 ppm), provided that the cell geometries and aerogel properties are carefully tailored for such applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 04, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA349204
Entities
People
- David V. Fix
- Jeffrey H. Richardson
- Joseph C. Farmer
- Scott L. Thomson
- Sherman C. May