Patent ID: 8920622

Claim:
An electrolyte system comprising: a reactor comprising: a pair of electrodes; and a channel in between the pair of electrodes, an electrolyte being disposed in the channel, wherein the pair of electrodes are configured to: receive a direct current (DC) signal and an alternating current (AC) signal for sorption of ions in the electrolyte by the pair of electrodes; sorb the ions in the electrolyte in response to receipt of the DC signal and the AC signal; receive the AC signal without receipt of the DC signal for desorption of the ions in the electrolyte by the pair of electrodes; and desorb the ions that were sorbed in response to receipt of the AC signal without the DC signal; at least one power supply in electrical communication with the reactor and configured to: supply the DC signal and the AC signal to the pair of electrodes for the sorption of the ions in the electrolyte; switch from being configured to supply the DC signal and the AC signal to being configured to supply the AC signal without the DC signal to the pair of electrodes for the desorption of the ions that were sorbed by the pair of electrodes; and supply the AC signal without supply of the DC signal to the pair of electrodes for the desorption of the ions in the electrolyte; and a controller in electrical communication with the at least one power supply and configured to: cause the at least one power supply to supply the DC signal and the AC signal to the pair of electrodes while determining an amount of ions sorbed by the pair of electrodes; determine that the amount of ions sorbed by the pair of electrodes has reached a threshold level; and in response to the determination, cause the at least one power supply to turn off the supply of the DC signal while keeping on the supply of the AC signal to the pair of electrodes for the desorption of the ions.