Patent ID: 8187441

Claim:
An electrochemical pump comprising an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising: a) a first compartment comprising a first electrode and a first electrolyte solution, the first electrolyte solution comprising a first redox couple different in composition from the first electrode and which participates in a first electrode reaction and a first group of ions, wherein neither of the species of the first redox couple is a gas; b) a second compartment comprising a second electrode and a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution comprising a second redox couple different in composition from the second electrode and which participates in a second electrode reaction and a second set of ions, wherein neither of the species of the second redox couple is a gas; and c) an ion conducting separator separating the first and second compartment, the separator being in fluid communication with the first and second electrolyte solution, wherein the separator has an effective pore diameter of less than about 50 nm.