Patent ID: 8137522
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method for desalinating saltwater, comprising: (a) generating a drive voltage by: (b) applying a sufficient voltage that comprises the drive voltage across a product chamber through which flows the saltwater to be desalinated and that is in ionic communication with the drive cell, the product chamber bounded by and in ionic communication with a product chamber anion exchange membrane on one side and bounded by and in ionic communication with a product chamber cation exchange membrane on another side, wherein the sufficient voltage equals or exceeds a desalination voltage of the product chamber such that cations and anions migrate from the saltwater through the product chamber cation and anion exchange membranes, respectively; and (c) reversing the polarity of the drive and sufficient voltages to descale the anion and cation exchange membranes; wherein saltwater exiting the product chamber has a lower ionic concentration than diluent exiting the diluent chamber.