Patent ID: 6723218
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: B01D,C23C

Abstract:
An apparatus for the electrodialytic regeneration of an electroless bath electrolyte comprising:a first electrodialysis unit and a second electrodialysis unit, each unit having diluate compartments through which the bath electrolyte is channeled, and concentrate compartments through which a regeneration electrolyte is channeled; two or more electrodes, comprising anode and cathode, in joint operation with the electrodialysis units; wherein in the first electrodialysis unit the diluate compartments are separated from the concentrate compartments on a cathode side by membranes that are selectively permeable to monovalent cations and on an anode side by membranes that are selectively permeable to all anions; wherein in the second electrodialysis unit the diluate compartments are separated from the concentrate compartments on a cathode side by membranes that are selectively permeable to monovalent anions and on an anode side by membranes that are selectively permeable to all cations; wherein the diluate compartments of the first electrodialysis unit are serially connected to the diluate compartments of the second electrodialysis unit via first lines through which the bath electrolyte is sequentially channeled; wherein the concentrate compartments of the first electrodialysis unit are serially connected to the concentrate compartments of the second electrodialysis unit via second lines through which the regeneration electrolyte is sequentially channeled; wherein the electrodes are in electrode compartments which are separated from adjacent compartments by membranes and through which electrode compartments a rinsing electrolyte can flow via third lines; and wherein one of said electrode compartments adjacent to the compartments of both electrodialysis units houses an electrode which is shared by both the first and second electrodialysis units.