Patent ID: 8168055
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
1. An electrodeionization apparatus comprising: an ion-concentrating compartment partially bounded by an anion permeable membrane and also partially bounded by a cation permeable membrane, wherein the anion permeable membrane includes an ion-concentrating compartment side surface which defines an ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the cation permeable membrane includes an ion-concentrating compartment side surface which defines an ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the cation permeable membrane; a first ion exchange material domain within the ion-concentrating compartment, wherein the first ion exchange material domain is contiguous with at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, wherein the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane defines an operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane defines an operative side surface area fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane which is at least 10% of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, in comparison to substantially any remaining fractions of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, is closest to an outlet of an ion-depleting compartment disposed on an opposite side of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the first ion exchange material domain is spaced apart from at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane defines an operative side surface fraction of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane defines an operative side surface area fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane which is at least 10% of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, in comparison to substantially any remaining portions of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, is closest to an outlet of an ion-depleting compartment disposed on an opposite side of the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane; such that, in the case where the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, having the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface with which the first ion exchange material domain is contiguous, is the anion permeable membrane, the first ion exchange material domain is an anion exchange material predominant domain, and wherein the anion exchange material predominant domain is contiguous with at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane defines a first operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the first operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane defines a first operative side surface area fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane which is at least 10% of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the first operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, in comparison to substantially any remaining fractions of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, is closest to an outlet of an ion-depleting compartment disposed on an opposite side of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the anion exchange material predominant domain is spaced apart from at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane defines a first operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the first operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane defines a first operative side surface area fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane which is at least 10% of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the first operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, in comparison to substantially any remaining fractions of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, is closest to an outlet of an ion-depleting compartment disposed on an opposite side of the cation permeable membrane; and in the case where the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, having the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface with which the first ion exchange material domain is contiguous, is the cation permeable membrane, the first ion exchange material domain is a cation exchange material predominant domain, and wherein the cation exchange material predominant domain is contiguous with at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane defines a second operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the second operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane defines a second operative side surface area fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane which is at least 10% of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the second operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, in comparison to substantially any remaining fractions of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the cation permeable membrane, is closest to an outlet of an ion-depleting compartment disposed on an opposite side of the cation permeable membrane, and wherein the cation exchange material predominant domain is spaced apart from at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the at least a portion of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane defines a second operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the second operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane defines a second operative side surface area fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane which is at least 10% of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface area of the anion permeable membrane, and wherein the second operative side surface fraction of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, in comparison to substantially any remaining fractions of the ion-concentrating compartment side surface of the anion permeable membrane, is closest to an outlet of an ion-depleting compartment disposed on an opposite side of the anion permeable membrane.