Batteries inspire next generation of desalination research

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Batteries inspire next generation of desalination research - WaterWorld

Batteries inspire next generation of desalination research

February 15, 2016

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A battery inspired water distillation process could be more efficient and hold several advantages compared to traditional reverse osmosis (RO) desalination, researchers have claimed.

The University of Illinois mechanical science and engineering professor Kyle Smith and graduate student Rylan Dmello published their work in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society.

Researchers were inspired by sodium ion batteries, which contain salt water. Batteries have two chambers, a positive electrode and a negative electrode, with a separator in between that the ions can flow across.

When the battery discharges, the sodium and chloride ions - the two elements of salt - are drawn to one chamber, leaving desalinated water in the other.

In a normal battery, the ions diffuse back when the current flows the other direction. The Illinois researchers looked to find a way to keep the salt out of the now-pure water.

The battery method uses electricity to draw charged salt ions out of the water.

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