MXPA98005620A - Electrodesioning device that has a settlement or assembly of io exchange material - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrodeionization apparatus adapted to remove ions from a liquid, the apparatus has a cathode approximated to a first end of the apparatus and anode approximately to the opposite end of the apparatus and has a plurality of alternate diluent compartments and concentrator compartments placed within the cathode and elongate, the diluent and concentrator compartments defined by the permeable cation and anion membranes, and the ion exchange material placed within the diluent compartments, the diluent compartments have there a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material containing a dispersed phase of clusters of a second ion exchange material. The method for removing ions from a liquid in such an electrodeionization apparatus comprises passing an aqueous liquid to be purified through the diluent compartments in which the diluent compartments have a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material with the dispersed phase of a second ion exchange material

Description

r ELECTRODESIONING DEVICE THAT HAS A SETTLEMENT OR ASSEMBLY OF ION EXCHANGE MATERIAL Field of the invention The present invention relates to an electrodeionization apparatus and method for removing ions from an aqueous liquid in an electrodeionization apparatus and, more particularly, to an electrodeionization apparatus having a plurality of diluent compartments and concentrator compartments and a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material with a dispersed phase of a second ion exchange material, and a method of removing ions from an aqueous liquid in such an electrodeionization apparatus.

Background of the Invention The purification of the liquid has been of greater interest in many industries. In particular, pure or purified water is used for many industrial purposes rather than just drinking water. For example, pure water is used in a procedure for the REF .: 27843 production of semiconductor chips, in power plants, in the petrochemical industry and for many other purposes. Ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis filtration and electrodialysis techniques have been used to reduce the concentration of ions in a liquid. The electrodeionization device has recently been used more frequently to reduce the * 10 concentration of ions in a liquid. The term "electrodeionization" in general, refers to an apparatus and process for the purification of liquids which combines the ion exchange resins, ion exchange membranes and electricity for purify the liquids. An electrodeionization module comprises alternating arrangements or assemblies of membranes - Permeable cations and permeable anion membranes that define the compartments between them. In alternate compartments, a resin is provided ion exchange. Those compartments are known as diluent compartments. The compartments which generally do not contain ion exchange resins are known as the concentrating compartments or concentrators. The ions migrate from the diluent compartments through the ion exchange resin and the ion permeable membranes within the concentrating compartments or concentrators by the introduction of current. The fluid or flow of the liquid through the concentrator compartments is discharged or partially recycled and the flow or fluid of the purified liquid through the diluent compartments is recovered as a deionized liquid product. U.S. Patent No. 4,636,296 which was published on January 13, 1987, by Kunz, describes an apparatus and method for the demineralization of aqueous solutions. An aqueous liquid is passed through alternate separate layers of cation exchange resins and ion exchange resins. This approach is difficult, the electrode is intensive and some similar distortion of the layers will occur during the service. U.S. Patent No. 5,308,467 which was published on May 3, 1994 by Sügo et al. describes an electrically regenerable demineralizing apparatus which has a demineralizing compartment. The ion exchange groups are arranged in monofilaments, of interwoven texture, or of non-woven texture monofilaments by graft polymerization initiated by radiation. This ion exchange material is contained within # of the demineralizing compartment. The use of such monofilaments in the demineralizing apparatus is expensive and, therefore, has not been readily accepted for the purpose of liquid purification apparatuses. It is desirable to have an arrangement or assembly of ion exchange material in the diluting compartments of the electrodeionization apparatus which do not use monofilaments and which allow various types of ion exchange material to be assembled or arranged in the diluent compartment in an arrangement or assembly not covered but still allowing the liquid to be purified to contact the zones Discrete of two types of ion exchange materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages of the prior art can be overcome by providing an electrodeionization apparatus which has a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material containing there a dispersed phase of one second groupings. ion exchange material in the diluent compartments, and a method of removing ions from a # aqueous liquid in an electrodeionization device having such arrangement or assembly of ion exchange materials in the diluent compartments. This arrangement 5 or assembly allows an increase in thickness and size, thereby allowing more resin to be placed in the diluent compartments and to decrease the number of membrane areas required for a corresponding increase in flow. • In this broad aspect, the ion exchange material of the invention comprises a permeable and porous ion exchanger, containing cation exchange resin particles and anion exchange resin particles for use in an aqueous liquid deionizer including a permeable and porous continuous phase of one of the cation exchange resin particles or anion exchange resin particles and a permeable and porous dispersed phase, from the groupings of the other resin particles of exchange of cations or anion exchange resin particles within the continuous phase. The ion exchanger is preferably in the form of a shallow bed having an opposite flat bed surface in which the groupings of The dispersed phases are adjacent to at least one of the opposite flatbed surfaces. The groupings # of dispersed phase can be spread across the shallow or thick bed and be abutting the flat surfaces of the opposite flat beds. The 5 groupings can be cylinders or ellipses that are shallow or transversally multifaceted. The particles of cation exchange resins and anion exchange resin particles ~? preferably they are linked by a bonding polymer to form a cohesive bed. More particularly, the electrodeionization apparatus adapted to remove ions from an aqueous liquid includes a cathode in a cathode compartment and an anode in an anode compartment and a A plurality of alternate diluent compartments and concentrator compartments placed between the cathode 1 and the anode, the concentrator and diluent compartments defined by the permeable membranes of anions and cations, and the ion exchange material.

Permeable and porous, placed inside the diluent compartments, the permeable and porous ion exchange material comprises a permeable and porous continuous phase of one of the resin particles of cation exchange and resin particles of anion exchange and a dispersed phase of clusters of the other cation exchange resin particles and the anion exchange resin particles within the continuous phase. The ion exchanger is preferably in the form of a shallow bed or sheet having an opposite flat bed surface, in which the clusters of the dispersed phase are abutting at least one of the flat bed surfaces. The dispersed phase groupings preferably extend through the shallow bed abutting the opposite flat bed surfaces of the bed. The groupings can be cylinders or ellipses elongated or shallow, or multi-faceted transversely such as elongated or shallow hexagons. The cation exchange resin particles and the anion exchange resin particles are preferably bound by a linking polymer to form a cohesive bed, said bed fills the diluent compartment. In a further aspect of the invention, the dispersed phase groupings of cation or anion exchange resin particles are exposed with at least one final abutment with a flat surface of the bed to contact the permeable membrane of anions or the membrane permeable of cations of the same type, i.e., clusters of the cation exchange resin particles are contacted with the cation permeable membrane, and the clusters of the anion exchange resin particles are brought into contact with the permeable membrane of anions, and preferably the dispersed phase groupings extending through the continuous phase and abutting the opposite flat surfaces of the continuous phase bed to abut and make contact with both, the permeable membrane of anions and the permeable membrane of cations, with this, they make a bridge in the diluent compartments. In another aspect of the invention, the method of the invention for removing ions from an aqueous liquid in a compartment of an electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode compartment having an anode and a cathode compartment having a cathode and a plurality of membranes. exchange of cations and anion exchange membranes which are arranged or alternately mounted between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment to form the demineralizing compartments each defined by an anion exchange membrane on the anode side and by a cation exchange membrane on the cathode side, and the concentrator compartments each defined by a cation exchange membrane on the anode side and by an anion exchange membrane on the cathode side, comprising feeding the aqueous liquid 5 to be purified through the diluent compartments in which The diluent compartments have a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material with a dispersed phase of groupings of a second exchange material. ions, said groupings of said dispersed phase are adjacent to and at least one of the permeable cation membranes of the same sign, said groupings of the dispersed phase, preferably extend through the continuous phase adjoining with and Both membranes are permeable to cations and anions, an electric current flowing between the cathode and the anode, and removing the purified aqueous liquid from the apparatus. A further aspect of the invention comprises a method of producing a permeable and porous ion exchanger which comprises placing a template having a flat cover plate with a plurality of thin walled hollow or hollow formed elements having openings ends Top and bottom dependent downwards thereof, over a designated receiving area, and feeding an aqueous suspension of one of the cation exchange resin particles or anion exchange resin particles to said template to form a continuous phase of said ion exchange resin particles, and feeding an aqueous suspension of the other cation exchange resin particles or anion exchange resin particles in the plurality of hollow or walled hollow elements, thin to form a plurality of dispersed phase groupings of the other cation exchange resin particles or the anion exchange resin particles. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of producing a permeable and porous ion exchanger, which comprises the placement of a set of distributor nozzles for the selective distribution of an aqueous suspension of particulate matter. cation exchange resins or ion exchange resin particles over a designated receiving area and feeding said designated area an aqueous suspension of one of the cation exchange resin particles or the particles of anion exchange resin to form a continuous phase of said ion exchange resin particles, and feeding an aqueous suspension of the other cation exchange resin particles or anion exchange resin particles in a predetermined pattern for forming a plurality of discontinuous discontinuous phase groupings of the other cation exchange resin particles or the anion exchange resin particles. A further aspect of the invention comprises a method to produce a permeable and porous ion exchanger for molding a cut of a plurality of formed groupings of cation exchange resin particles or anion exchange resin particles of a first sheet of said resin particles for forming a continuous phase of said ion exchange resin particles having a plurality of holes therein, for molding a cut of a plurality of identical groupings of the other particles of cation exchange resins or resin particles. of anions of a second sheet of said resin particles, and adjusting said clusters cut from the other cation exchange resin particles or anion resin particles in the holes of the first sheet.

£ ¡The ion exchanger can be formed on an ion exchange membrane to come into internal contact with the dispersed phase of the ion exchange particles with the membrane, on a separating or guiding structure, and the ion exchanger motionless in the separating structure or guide for transfer. The invention also includes the step of inserting a formed mesh preform having a smaller mesh size than the average sized particles in the hollow or recessed elements for incorporation into discrete discontinuous phase groupings or in the continuous phase. of the ion exchange resin particles. 15 The formed preform can be a straight cylinder or a straight rectangle, a multifaceted or hexagonal straight prismatic shape. A honeycomb mesh can be incorporated into one of the dispersed phase or continuous phase groupings. twenty Brief description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrodeionization apparatus of the prior art; Figure 2 is a fragmented sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembly or arrangement of the ion exchange material of the invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3; Y # 10 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another arrangement or assembly of the ion exchange material of the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus for forming the ion exchanger of the invention, and Figure 7 is an elevated view of the apparatus shown in Figure 6 mounted in a compartment of separating structure.

Detailed description of the preferred modalities With reference to Figure 1, a prior art electrodeionization apparatus is shown. , by which ions can be eliminated of a liquid. In the preferred embodiment, ions such as sodium ions and chlorine ions are removed from the # Water. The electrodeionization apparatus 10 has a rectangular structure 12. The structure 12 comprises a rigid front plate 14 and a rigid rear plate 16 formed of metal. The faceplate 14 and the back plate 16 are joined together with a number of spacer bars or rollers 18. Each spacer bar 18 is inserted into a hole 20 located at a distance x, around the periphery of the front plate 14 and inserted into the corresponding holes 18a in a back plate 16. A cathode represented by the number 22 (figure 2) is located next to the front plate 14 in a cathode compartment 23 and a anode represented by the number 24 is located next to the back plate 16 in an anode compartment. The openings 26 are located by the front plate 14 to allow the liquid to enter the electrodeionization apparatus 10 for treatment. The block of insulating electrode 28 forming an electrode compartment abuts the perimeter of the front plate 4 and the block of the insulating electrode 30 forming an electrode compartment continuously abuts the perimeter of the back plate 20. The apparatus of The electrodeionization 10 has a plurality of alternate cation permeable membranes and permeable anion membranes represented by the number 32 between the blocks of insulating electrodes 28 and 30. Permeable cation and membrane membranes, permeable for anions 32, are described which define the alternate diluent and concentrator compartments. Figure 2 shows in further detail the representative concentrator compartments 44, 46 and a representative diluent compartment 48, between the concentrating compartments. Permeable cation membranes 36 and 38 and anion permeable membranes 40 and 42 define the concentrator compartments and diluent compartments. The spacers (not shown) are placed between the membranes in the diluent compartments and concentrator compartments. The separators in the diluent compartments 48 have openings for the placement of the ion exchange material such as the beds of ion exchange resins 49. It will be understood that the ion exchange resin can be placed inside the concentrator compartments. Figures 3 and 4 show a preferred arrangement or assembly of an ion exchange material of the present invention to be used within the diluent compartment 48 shown in Figure 2. A pore bed 40 and a permeable continuous phase, i.e., a matrix, of ion exchange material 50 has a plurality of spaced apart cylinders of the permeable and porous groupings of the second material 5 of ion exchange 52, one of which is shown in 1 figure 3, dispersed within a matrix 50 transversely by the flat bed. The ion exchange materials 50 and 52 preferably are particles of ion exchange resins in the form beds. The ion exchange material 50 and the ion exchange material 52 exchange ions of opposite charges. For example, if the continuous phase of an ion exchange material 50, is a cation exchange material, which would have fixed charges In the negative for capturing ions, the dispersed phase ion exchange material 52 is an ion exchange material which would have fixed positive charges to capture ions. The assembly or transverse arrangement of the groupings of the dispersed phase of the The ion exchange material placed or bonded to the diluent compartments allows the aqueous liquid which flows into the diluent compartments 48 to come into contact with both forms of ion exchange resins for effectively exchange cations and ions.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the aqueous liquid to be treated flows through the openings 26 and through the concentrating compartments 44 and 46 and the diluent compartments 48. The liquid streams represented by the arrows 54 and 56 flow through the concentrator compartments 44 and 46 respectively and a stream of the liquid represented by the arrow 58 flows through. "^ of the diluent compartment 48. The aqueous liquid contains ions such as chlorine and sodium ions. The electric current flows between the cathode 22 in the cathode compartment 23 and the anode 24 in the anode compartment 25. The current that crosses the cathode 22 and the anode 24 can be varied to control the total efficiency of the electrodeionization process. As the liquid to be purified flows to flf through the diluent compartment 48, as represented by arrow 58, it comes into contact with or comes into contact with the resin beds of exchange of ions, as in the assembly or arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4. The cation exchange resin 50 has fixed negative charges and captures cations such as sodium ions present in the liquid. The anion exchange resins 52 have set positive charges and capture anions such as the chlorine ions present in the liquid. As the ion exchange takes place between the liquid to be purified and the cation exchange resin beds 50 and the anion exchange resin beds 52, the voltage induces the unwanted cations and the anions typified by sodium ions and chlorine ions respectively to travel through membranes 38 and 40 and into adjacent concentrator compartments 46 and 44. The ion exchange resin is placed in a transverse arrangement or assembly relative to the flow of the liquid as shown in the figures 3 and 4. This arrangement or device allows most of the liquid to flow through the diluent compartment 48 that comes into contact with the ion exchange material 50 and 52. In the preferred embodiment, the water is purified in the apparatus of electrodeionization 10. The current induces some slippage of water in the hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. The hydrogen ions are transported through the cation exchange resin 50 to the cation exchange membrane 38 and through the cation exchange membrane 38 in the concentrator compartment 46, as shown by arrows 66. The ions hydroxyl are transported through the anion exchange resin 52 to the permeable membrane of the anion 40, and through the permeable membrane of the anion 40 in the concentrator compartment 44, as shown by the arrows 62. In addition, the resin material ion exchange 50 and ion exchange resin material 52 are continuously regenerated. Anionic impurities, for example chlorine ions in the water to be purified in the diluent chamber 48, are taken by the anion exchange resin material 52 by the usual ion exchange mechanism, and are then transported along with the hydroxyl ions through the anion exchange resin to, and through the permeable membrane of anion 40, in a concentrator compartment 44 as shown by dates 60. At the same time, a quantity of hydrogen ions and cation impurities are transported from an adjacent diluent compartment in a concentrator chamber 44, as shown by arrows 70. Cationic impurities, for example, sodium ions in the water to be purified in the chamber diluent 48, are taken by the cation exchange resin material 50, by the usual ion exchange mechanism, and are then transported along with the hydrogen ions through the cation exchange resin to, and through of the cation permeable membrane 38, in a concentrator compartment 46 as shown by the arrows 64. At the same time, an amount and hydrogen ions are transported. and cation impurities from an adjacent diluent compartment in a concentrator chamber 46 as shown by arrows 68. Water flows through the concentrator compartments 44 and 46 to a waste tank (no. shown) or is recycled. The purified water flows through the diluent compartment 48 recovered as a product. It will be understood that the pooled dispersed ion exchange material 52 can be of any The geometrical shape within the material of the ion exchange matrix 50, for example, cylindrical, conical, frusto-conical or elliptical in cross section or multifaceted in cross section such as hexagonal prismatic straight; to increase the surface area of the groupings. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the arrangement or assembly of the ion exchange resin material 50 and 52 of the present invention within the diluent compartments of an apparatus for electrodeionization in which the grouped phase is dispersed 60 in a cylindrical shape in alignment »Transverse within the diluent compartment and is continuous and placed in contact with an ion-permeable membrane of the same charges, ie of the same sign. For example, an anion exchange resin pool 60 could be contiguous with and contacted with an anion permeable membrane 62. Preferably, the ion exchange groupings or isolations extend through the phase # 10 continues and are adjacent to the opposite faces 64, 66 of bed 49, as typified in Figure 3, thereby, the dispersed groupings are contiguous with and would approach and contact the permeable membrane of the anion and the cation permeable membrane.

The grouping 50 can be formed from a shallow bed or sheet of a continuous phase of ion exchange resin particles of a first or second ion exchange material, bound by a polymeric binder, to mold a cut of the groupings to the desired size and shape of the sheet. A sheet of a continuous phase of ion exchange resin particles of an ion exchange material having an opposite charge bound by a polymeric resin having a plurality of holes corresponding in size and shape to the groupings 50 mold a cut thereof, which can reduce the * 50 cut clusters having the opposite charge in the couplings produced by friction settings to form ion exchangers. A thermoplastic polymeric linker 5 such as a low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or the like, in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive sheet or a convenient bed structure for handling, while retaining better the porosity, the # 10 ion exchange capacity and liquid permeability, can be used to form the initial sheets of the first and second ion exchange material. Permeable pores and ion exchangers can be formed in si t? in the compartments diluents by the use of a set of distributor nozzles to release efficiently and accurately controlled quantities of a first ion exchange material and quantities of a second ion exchange material, such as suspensions, to a diluent chamber structure or template to form the required pattern configuration of a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material with a discontinuous phase of a second ion exchange material. The desired number of the scattered domain individually, for example, cylindrical groupings of the second ion exchange material, can be * form directly. The individually dispersed domains of the second ion exchange material of various shapes, such as cylindrical, or straight hexagonal prisms, conical, frusto-conical and the like, may be formed by a variation of the number, shape and position of the distributor nozzles and by a variation of the release rate of the second ion exchange material in coordination # 10 with the release of the continuous phase of the first ion exchange material. The continuous phase of the first ion exchange material can be quickly formed with the use of a plurality of distributor nozzles by a variant of the number, size and arrangement or geometrical assembly of these counting nozzles, the relative amounts of the ion exchange materials released by the respective nozzles, and by the relative proportion of the release. The control of exchange materials of ions can be performed by a number of means, including the use of feeder screens, shifting feeders, gravity, and the like. The nozzle assembly provides the desired model of the ion exchange materials; however, this may consist of a sustenance of the same, the complete model desired is carried by the change of the * relative positions of the assembly or arrangement of the distributor nozzles and the diluent chamber structure or the template 5 A template model can be used to release efficiently and accurately the desired quantities of a first ion exchange material and of a second ion exchange material, such as suspensions, to form the configuration of the required model 10 of a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material with a discontinuous phase of a second ion exchange material. An example of such cylindrical domains is shown in figures 6 and 7. Template 101 corresponds to the desired model, comprising a plurality of end elements, apertures, recesses or hollows, thin walled, formed 102, such as hollow or recessed cylinders defining the perimeter of the desired isolated domain of the second ion exchange material depending down a flat cover plate 103. The cover 103 defines the desired area of the continuous phase of the first ion exchange material. The feeder tubes 104 for the introduction of the first material of the ion exchange in the form of a suspension of the ion exchange material suspended in the water and the discharge tubes 105 for * remove excess water or other fluids used in transporting the first ion exchange material, projected towards the top or top of the cover plate 103. A perimeter wall 106 may, if desired, be extended downwardly. around the angle of the jig 101 and a base or flange of the periphery 107 can extend towards the angle of the coplanar jig with a cover plate 103. In use, the jig is placed within a separating structure of a diluent compartment 110 (Figure 7) with the wall 106 established in and in contact with an ion exchange membrane 111. The first ion exchange material is poured into the template via the feeder tubes 104 and discharge tubes 105, as indicated by arrows 112 and 113, thereby providing the desired continuous phase of the first »Ion exchange material. An aqueous suspension of the second ion exchange material can be flooded inside the cover plate 103 to fill the tubes 102 with the second ion exchange material, the excess of the ion exchange material is removed by means of a cleaner to clean all of the excess of the sudden flow of the second material from ion exchange with the cover plate 103 or by flooding the cover plate 103 with water to completely rinse off the excess solid material. The cover plate 103 can return and have a cover not shown, spaced therefrom to form a shallow coextensive passage 5 with the width and length of the plate cover 103 direct to the aqueous suspension uniformly crossing the cover plate 103 and avoid grooving for uniform placement of the second ion exchange material in the domain tubes 102. The filling ratio of the tubes to form the discontinuous phase domain can be controlled by the variation of the suspension flow rate and the density of the suspension. Template 101 is then removed from the separating structure 110, conducting the desired pattern of the continuous phase of the first ion exchange material with discontinuous disperse phase of groupings of the second ion exchange material within the separating structure. If preferred, the outer part extends towards the flange of the periphery 107, seated on the upper surface of the spacer structure 110, with this the need for the perimeter wall 106 seated on the ion exchange membrane 11 is obvious. .

This procedure can also be carried out with the use of guide workers, not shown in place of the extender separator structure 110. A guide structure placed on a plastic film, with a cover plate mode 5 seated therewith, can receive continuous fas and discontinuous of particular ion exchange material having opposite charges for the flooded suspensions or their causes of the ion exchange material of the respective cavities, as # 10 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. Alternatively, a plurality of distributor nozzles can be used to form a desired pattern configuration of continuous and discontinuous phases in a guide. The bed comprising the continuous and discontinuous phases can be transported to a place to pack in a diluent compartment. Manufacturing methods can be used to make models which dominate the shapes differently by alternating the template accordingly.

The present manufacturing methods can also be applied to elaborate other models and configurations in which no phase of materials is continuous. The required configuration of a continuous phase consists of a first ion exchange material With a discontinuous phase of a second ion exchange material, it can be stabilized by means of a fine mesh defining the respective continuous and discontinuous regions. The openings in the meshes allow to treat the flow of water. The openings in the 5 meshes are sometimes smaller than the ion exchange beds to be separated. Preferably, the relative sizes of the apertures of the meshes of the ion exchange beds is such that in the compacted state obtained in a diluent chamber, the beds of exchange of ions on either side of the mesh come into contact with each other. Deionization can also be obtained with fine meshes where the ion exchange beds on either side are very close, up to a few diameters of the bed, but do not touch it. The cylindrical preforms of the meshes can be placed inside the model of the stencil described above in the template area corresponding to the discontinuous phase.

Following the causes of the two resins and, eliminating the cylindrical elements of the mesh from the templates, they remain embedded in the model resulting from the ion exchange material. An individual preform or multiple preforms can also be placed in the model template area corresponding to the continuous phase. The ion exchange beds can be selectively added in a model by means of distributor nozzles as described above, the individual preform or multiple preforms occupy either or both continuous and discontinuous phases. The fine mesh can be provided as individually preformed cells or multiple interconnected preformed cells having a right circle, or right, hexagonal rectangle or the similar right prismatic shape with individual cells having an amplitude diameter of, for example, approximately 0.5 cm inside a discrete cylindrical domain having a diameter of approximately 3 cm. A plurality of interconnected mesh cells having a honeycomb configuration 122 forming a cylindrical domain generally 3 cm in diameter with individual cells of 0.5 cm, amplitude filling the effective constrictions of the ion exchange material within the domain reaching be embedded in the domain, and facilitates the introduction of the ion exchange material by means of the distributor nozzles.

An elongated fine mesh honeycomb plate 124 # that has dimensions to fill the compartment can be used for either or both continuous and discontinuous phases to receive and stabilize the material from resin nozzles. A fine mesh honeycomb plate preform can be formed by cutting to a desired shape and fitting into the cylindrical holes in a template model and / or such preforms can be inserted into and • 10 compressed as an integral part of the continuous phase of the template. The required configuration of a continuous phase consists of a first interchangeable ion material with a discontinuous phase of one second Ion exchange material can be produced in a guide and immobile, while wetting with water for convenient handling during assembly or stacking arrangement in the immobile state. The required configuration can also be produced in a guide with a ion exchange membrane and / or with a concentrator or diluent separator structure to obtain a sub-assembly or sub-arrangement which can be conveniently manipulated during assembly or stacking assembly in an immobile state. Once assembled or assembled, it is left Dissolve to provide the desired model of ion exchange materials, constrained and stabilized in the diluent chambers. It is understood that these methods can also be used to form models of ion exchange materials in the electrode spacing structures and concentrators as well as in non-electrochemical ion exchange devices. The method and apparatus of the invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting example.

Example 1 Comparative example of the behavior of a model of an ion exchange medium against a mixed bed ion exchange medium Comparative experiments were performed using an electrodesionization device with three diluent compartments. The apparatus consists sequentially of a stainless steel end plate of 1.8 cm in thickness; a 2.5 cm thick PVC insulating electrode block; a titanium anode coated with platinum; and an electrode spacer compartment of approximately 0.1 cm in thickness consisting of polypropylene mesh in an elastomeric structure, in which the structure serves to seal the unit and to define the fluid distribution ducts; a permeable cation membrane approximately 0.07 cm thick; a concentrator compartment compartment of approximately 0.1 cm in thickness consisting of a polypropylene mesh in an elastomeric structure, in which the structure serves to seal the unit and to define the fluid distribution ducts; three pairs of diluents / concentrators in series, each comprising an anion permeable membrane of approximately 0.07 cm in thickness, a diluent compartment of 0.8 cm in thickness consisting of an open polyproline structure for sealing and fluid distribution and for contain the ion exchange material to be evaluated, a distributor of fluid or flow and a fluid collector equipped with a sieve aperture, to retain the ion exchange beds in the diluent compartments, a cation permeable membrane of 0.07 cm thickness, and a concentrating compartment compartment of approximately 0.1 cm in thickness; a permeable membrane of cations approximately 0.07 cm thick, an electrode compartment separator approximately 0.1 cm thick, a stainless steel cathode, a 2.5 cm thick PVC insulating electrode block, and a * 1.8 cm thick stainless steel end plate. The dimensions of the working area of the fluid compartments (concentration and dilution of the electrode) and the electrodes were 13 cm in width and 39 cm in length in the direction of liquid flow. The components of the electrodeionization stack were clamped together in compression by the cutter 16 x f '1.0 cm in diameter placed in the holes around of the diameter of the stainless steel end plates. In a usual manner, the apparatus is provided with fluid ducts, defined by openings in the separators and membranes, for the following purposes: to feed the water to be purified in the diluent compartments; to eliminate the purified water from the diluent compartments; to feed the water in the electrode compartments and concentrators; to remove water from the concentrator compartments; and to eliminate water to from the electrode compartments. The water to be purified in the experiments consisted of municipal drinking water which has been filtered first with activated carbon, softened with a sodium cation exchange unit, partially deionized by osmosis inverse, and stored in an 800-gallon polypropylene storage tank. This feeder will provide the water with a conductivity of approximately 3 μS / cm. The electrode and concentrator compartments were fed with softened and filtered water having a conductivity of 350 μS / cm. A first experiment was performed in which three diluent compartments were each filled with approximately 270 g of a bound mixture closely, 50/50 by volume of strong dry diaion acid and strong base of ion exchange resin, in the forms of chlorine and sodium. The electrodeionization cell was then regenerated by passing the water to be purified at a flow rate of Approximately 0.8 gpm through the diluent compartments, passing the water through the electrode compartments and concentrators at a flow rate of approximately 0.2 gpm, and applying a current of approximately 1 Amp. The The proportion of the flow in the diluent compartments was increased by an objective of approximately 1.3 gpm, the current was increased to 2.0 amperes, and the fed conductivity was 3.09 μS / cm. Under these conditions, the resistive water capacity of the product in a stable state was found to be 11.2 Ocm. A second experiment was carried out in which the three diluent compartments were each filled with a fixation or assembled model of strong dry diaion acid and a strong base of ion exchange resin, in the chlorine and sodium forms. The model used consists of a first continuous phase of * approximately 147 g of exchange resin bound anions, dry, containing 72 x 1.9 cm cyclindric domain of a second dispersed phase of about 123 g of bound cation exchange resin. The electrodeionization stack was first regenerated by passing the water to be purified to a flow rate of approximately 0.3 gpm through the diluent compartments by passing the water through the electrode compartments and concentrators at a flow of approximately 0.1 gpm and applying a current of approximately 1 Amp. The The proportion of the flow in the diluent compartments was increased by the objective of approximately 1.3 gpm, the current was increased to 2.0 amperes, and the fed conductivity was 2.74 μS / cm. Under these conditions the capacity of resistivity of the water of the product in stable state was found of 17.88 MOcm. It would be understood, of course, that these modifications can be made in the embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the scope and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

• It is noted that, with regard to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property. twenty

Claims (28)

1. A permeable and porous ion exchanger containing cation exchange resin particles and anion exchange resin particles for use in an aqueous deionizing liquid characterized in that it comprises a permeable and porous continuous phase of one of the exchange resin particles of anion. cations or anion exchange resin particles and a permeable dispersed phase of groupings of the other cation exchange resin particles or the anion exchange resin particles in the continuous phase.

2. An ion exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the ion exchanger is in the form of an opposite flat bed surface, and in which said dispersed phase groupings are determined with at least one of the surfaces of said bed flat

3. An ion exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that the dispersed phase groupings extend through the shallow bed and are adjacent to the # surfaces of flat beds opposite the bed.

4. An ion exchanger according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the groupings are shallow cylinders or ellipses.

5. An ion exchanger according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that 10 The groupings are ellipses or elongated cylinders.

6. An ion exchanger according to claims 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that the groupings are transversally multifaceted.

7. An ion exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that the cation exchange resin particles and the ion exchange resin particles are linked by a polymeric linker to form a cohesive bed.

8. An ion exchanger according to claims 1-6, characterized in that If one of the dispersed phase or continuous phase groupings has been embedded therein in one or more formed mesh preforms having a mesh size smaller than the average size of the resin particles, said preforms have a straight, rectangular cylinder 5 straight, and a straight multifaceted or straight hexagonal prismatic shape.

9. An ion exchanger according to claims 1-6, characterized in that • 10 minus one of the dispersed phase or continuous phase groupings have been embedded there in a mesh honeycomb having a mesh size smaller than the average size of the resin particles.

10. An ion exchanger according to claim 10, characterized in that said J honeycomb has a cell amplitude smaller than the amplitude or diameter of the dispersed phase groupings. 11. An apparatus for the demineralization of an aqueous liquid characterized in that it comprises a demineralizing compartment having a cation exchange membrane on one side of the compartment and

An anion exchange membrane on the other side of the compartment and a permeable and porous bed of a continuous phase of the resin exchange particles of cations or anion exchange resin particles and a permeable and dispersed phase. By grouping the other cation exchange resin particles or the anion exchange resin particles within the continuous phase according to any of claims 1-10, said beds fill said compartment.

12. An apparatus for the demineralization of an aqueous liquid characterized in that it comprises an anode compartment having an anode, and a cathode compartment having a cathode, and a plurality of cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes which are mounted alternating between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment to form the demineralizing compartments each defined by an anion exchange membrane on the anode side and by a cation exchange membrane on the cathode side, and concentrating compartments each defined by a cation exchange membrane on the anode side by an anion exchange membrane on the cathode side, and a porous and porous ion exchanger in accordance with any of the # claims 1-10, filling said demineralizing shares.

13. A method for the demineralization of water in an apparatus characterized in that it includes an anode and a cathode coparticle including a cathode, and a plurality of cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes, which are 10 mounted alternately between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment to form the demineralizing compartments, each defined by an anion exchange membrane on the anode side and by a cation exchange membrane on the side of the anode. fifteen - . 15 - cathode, and concentrating compartments, each defined by a cation exchange membrane in fT the anode side and by an anion exchange membrane on the cathode side, and a porous and porous ion exchanger in accordance with any of the 20 claims 1-10 filling said demineralizing compartments, comprising feeding the water to be demineralized to said demineralizing compartments, by flowing an electric current between the cathode and the anode, and removing the water 25 demineralized from the apparatus.

# 14. A method of producing a permeable and porous ion exchanger, according to claims 1-6, characterized in that it comprises the positioning of a template having a flat cover plate with a plurality of hollow or recessed walled elements, thin, which have final ends with upper and lower openings dependent downwards on an area of # 10 designated reception, and feeding an aqueous suspension of one of the cation exchange resin particles or anion exchange resin particles to said template to form a continuous phase of said ion exchange resin particles, and 15 feed an aqueous suspension of the other cation exchange resin particles or W resin particles of anion exchange in the plurality of thin walled recessed elements, to form a plurality of dispersed phase groupings of the other 20 particles of cation exchange resin or anion exchange resin particles.

15. A method of producing a permeable and porous 25 ion exchanger, according to claims 1-6, characterized in that it comprises placing a set of distributor nozzles for the selective distribution of an aqueous suspension of particles of cation or 5-particle exchange resins of ion exchange resin over a designated receiving area and feeding said designated area an aqueous suspension of one of the cation exchange resin particles or the # anion exchange resin particles for 10 forming a continuous phase of said ion exchange resin particles, and feeding an aqueous suspension of the other cation exchange resin particles or anion exchange resin particles in a predetermined pattern to form a A plurality of discontinuous discontinuous phase groupings of the other resin particles of f exchange of cations or of the anion exchange resin particles.

16. A method of producing a permeable and porous ion exchanger according to claim 7, characterized in that it molds a cut of a plurality of groups formed of resin particles of cation exchange or resin particles. 25 of anions exchange of a first sheet of said resin particles to form a continuous phase of said ion exchange resin particles having a plurality of holes therein, to mold a cut of a plurality of identical groupings of the other particles of cation exchange resins or anion resin particles within the holes of the first sheet.

17. A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said ion exchanger is formed on an ion exchange membrane to make intimate contact of the dispersed phase of the ion exchange particles with the membrane.

18. A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it is formed in an ion exchanger in a separating structure.

19. A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the formation of the ion exchanger in a guide on a plastic support film for transfer to a separating structure.

20. A method according to claim 18, characterized in that said exchanger is immobile in the separating structure.

21. A method according to claim 19, characterized in that said ion exchanger is immobile in the guide for the transfer of the ion exchanger to the separating structure.

22. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that a shaped mesh preform having a mesh size smaller than the size of the particles in the recessed elements is inserted.

23. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that a formed mesh preform having a mesh size smaller than the average size of the resin particles is located to discrete discontinuous phase groupings.

24. A method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that said preform formed has a straight cylinder, or straight rectangle, of a multifaceted straight or straight hexagonal prismatic shape.

25. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that a plurality of mesh preforms are formed which have a mesh size smaller than the average size of the resin particles in the receiving area. - defining the continuous phase of the ion exchange resin particles.

26. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that said shaped preform has a straight cylinder, or right rectangle, with 15 straight multifaceted or straight hexagonal prismatic shape.

27. A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it selectively provides a mesh honeycomb in the area 20 for the incorporation of at least one dispersed phase or continuous phase grouping.

28. A method according to claim 22-27, characterized in that it is frozen, said immobile ion exchanger for transport.