Patent ID: 8262892

Claim:
A method for electrochemical modification of liquid streams employing an electrolytic cell comprising steps of: a) providing at least one electrolytic cell for electrochemical modification of liquid streams which incorporates an anode, an anode compartment containing the anode and a liquid electrolyte anolyte, a cathode compartment containing a liquid electrolyte catholyte and a cathode incorporating a plurality of cathode particulates forming a cathode particulates bed, a current feeder device, a separator, a mechanical cathode particulates conveyance system arranged to manipulate motion of at least a portion of the cathode particulates via a direct mechanical interaction between the mechanical cathode particulates conveyance system and the at least a portion of the cathode particulates, a system for circulation of the liquid streams through the electrolytic cell, and a system for conducting unidirectional electric current, b) circulating at least one liquid stream undergoing modification through the at least one electrolytic cell, c) applying the mechanical cathode particulates conveyance system to form the moving cathode particulates bed immersed in the catholyte and to transport the moving cathode particulates through the catholyte substantially independently from the catholyte circulation, d) bringing the cathode particulates bed in at least intermittent contact with the current feeder device, e) energizing the system for conducting unidirectional electric current to drive current supported by the at least one liquid stream from the anode through the anolyte and the separator and into the catholyte and to the cathode particulates and to the current feeder device during the contact between the cathode particulates and the current feeder device, f) executing steps b) through e) for the duration of time sufficient to electrochemically react at least a predetermined quantity of constituents of the at least one liquid stream undergoing modification.