Patent CA-3109989-A1 (CA)
Inventor: BLUNN ADAM
IPC: C25B1/34
Filed: 2019-08-17
Abstract: (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY  (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau     (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date                WO 2020/033988 Al 20 February 2020 (20.02.2020) WIPO I PCT (51) International Patent Classification:    AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ, C22B 26/10 (2006.01)    C25B 1/34 (2006.01)    CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DJ, DK, DM, DO, BOlD 61/44 (2006.01)    C25B 1/46 (2006.01)    DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JO, JP, KE, KG, KH, KN, (21) International Application Number: KR, KW, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA. MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, (22) International Filing Date:    OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, 17 August 2019 (17.08.2019)                  SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (25) Filing Language:                   English (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every (26) Publication Language:              English kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, OH, (30) Priority Data:                          GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, TZ, 2018903033        17 August 2018 (17.08.2018)    AU    UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, (71) Applicant: LITHTECH INDUSTRIES PTY LTD    EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IIR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, [AU/AU]; Jones Bay Wharf, Suite 98, 26-32 Pirrama Road,    MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, Py rmont, New South Wales 2009 (AU).         TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, (72) Inventors: BLUNN, Adam; 17 James Road, Goonellabah,    KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). NSW 2480 (AU). EASTWOOD, Scott; 100 Swan Bay New Italy Road, Swan Bay, NSW 2471 (AU). (74) Agent: SULMAN, Matthew James; Matthew Sulman & Associates, 29 Sleath Street, Toowong, QLD 4066 (AU). ......==== (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of (lational protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, = (54) Title: AN IMPROVED ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR  SEPARATING IMPURITIES (57) Abstract: An electrochemical method for separating impurities from ague-_ 10-\ ous solutions, comprises the steps of circulating an aqueous feed solution con-taining an impurity ion to a cathode chamber of an electrochemical cell contain-ing a cathode; circulating an acidic electrolyte solution to an anode chamber con-=     18     19         2 1    /20 taining an anode; separating the anode chamber from the cathode chamber with a __________ I I \    I  ___ ,     central chamber, to form a 3-chamber cell, having an anion exchange membrane forming a boundary between the cathode chamber and the central chamber, and a cation exchange membrane forming a boundary between the anode chamber and the central chamber; circulating or adding a chloride solution within or to the central chamber; applying a current across the anode and cathode to facilitate H' 1-1'                           hydrogen ions generated at the anode to migrate through the cation exchange membrane into the central chamber, and chloride ions generated in the cathode chamber to migrate across the anion exchange membrane to the central chamber __________ I  __ to form hydrochloric acid; wherein the impurity ions are precipitated as hydrox-= (22               (24    ( 26 ide compounds in the cathode chamber to produce an impurity depleted solution. OC FIG. 1 CI [Continued on next page) Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-17 WO 2020/033988 Al 11111 l0llll 0 F101010 IN 11111 11 II II III 11111 0111 Declarations under Rule 4.17: ¨    as to the identity of the inventor (Rule 4.17(0) ¨    as to applicant's entitlement to apply for and be granted a patent (Rule 4.1700 ¨    as to ihe applicant's entitlement to claim the priority of the earlier application (Rule 4.17(iii)) ¨    of inventorship (Rule 4.17(iv)) Published: ¨    with international search report (Art. 21(3)) Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-17