A novel cell structure for high performance electrosorption process

A 3-channel cell structure for capacitive deionization (CDI) process has been proposed and tested in this study. A great improvement in electrosorption performance has been achieved with this novel cell design. Using a NaCl aqueous solution with a conductivity of 3000 μS/cm as the feed stream, a desalination rate of 85 % was obtained with a water recovery of 90 %. The 3-channel design enabled the electrosorption process proceeded in an almost continuous fashion, greatly enhancing the cell utilization efficiency and lowering capital costs in the practical desalination system. In addition, the introduction of an electrode chamber flow renders the electrosorption process suitable for higher-concentration feed solutions, effectively overcoming the concentration limitations typically faced by traditional CDI systems. In the practical application, the system was tested for the desalination of desulfurization wastewater from power plants, achieving over 90 % ion removal, with total hardness decreased by 96.1 % in a continuous test. This study highlights the potential of the 3-channel CDI design for large-scale applications, especially for high salinity wastewater treatment, providing new insights into advancing electrosorption technology for challenging water treatment scenarios.