Patent ID: 7501064

Claim:
An apparatus for electrodialysis treatment of contaminated feed liquids, comprising: a pretreatment filtration unit having at least one filtration membrane through which contaminated feed liquids are directed, said at least one filtration membrane having sufficient pore diameters to deny passage of insoluble particles and to allow passage of filtrate liquids, said pretreatment filtration unit having at least one effluent channel for passage of said filtrate liquids; a mixing unit in hydraulic connection with said at least one effluent channel of said pretreatment filtration unit, said mixing unit including means for mixing fluids transferred to said mixing unit; and an electrodialysis unit in hydraulic connection with said mixing unit, said electrodialysis unit including a stacked configuration of a plurality of interdisposed anion cell membranes and cation cell membranes interleaved with a plurality of spacers, said electrodialysis unit providing at least one fluid path therethrough for movement of said filtrate liquids whereby a partially deionized product diluate liquid and concentrated ion fluid are separated from said filtrate liquids by at least one fluid path through said stacked configuration of said electrodialysis unit with said concentrated ion fluid channeled for release from said electrodialysis unit; a recycle conduit through which partially deionized fluids are transferred to said mixing unit for blending; a pressure-driven filtration unit including at least one of a nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membrane through which said blended feed liquid is channeled for separation of ionic and nonionic contaminants from said blended feed liquid, at least one of said nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membrane having a plurality of fluid paths through which said blended feed liquid is pressure driven whereby said pressure-driven filtration unit separates said blended feed liquid into a decontaminated product liquid and a concentrated liquid; an effluent channel for release of said decontaminated product liquid from said pressure-driven filtration unit; and at least one recycle channel through which said concentrated liquid is transferred to said mixing unit for blending.