Selective ion capture, separation and concentration

  • IMDEA Energy
  • From Spain
  • Responsive
  • Innovative Products and Technologies

Summary of the technology

Electrochemical cells with ion-selective electrodes can be used for pumping of ions from impure liquors to refined solutions. This involves ion capture, separation and concentration processes. The electrodes proposed for this technology derive from the active materials in metal-ion intercalation batteries, such as Li-ion, Na-ion and K-ion batteries. These active materials are conformed in a semi-solid flow design that allows the electrodes to be easily replaced when they reach the end of their lifetime. In addition, the thickness of the electrodes is adapted according to the required area capacity and allows different types of electrode materials to be injected depending on the demand of the separation process, showing great versatility. This versatility is enhanced by adjusting the cell configuration to symmetric and asymmetric architectures by using different ionic exchange membranes and depending on the type of inlet and outlet solutions processed.

IMDEA Energy
IMDEA Energy

Details of the Technology Offer

Description
The concept is based on the pumping of ions through an electrochemical cell made of ion-selective electrodes that can capture, separate and concentrate certain ions, for example, Lithium, Sodium and Potassium.Electrochemical cells with ion-selective electrodes can be used for pumping of ions from impure liquors to refined solutions. This involves ion capture, separation and concentration processes. The electrodes proposed for this technology derive from the active materials in metal-ion intercalation batteries, such as Li-ion, Na-ion and K-ion batteries. These active materials are conformed in a semi-solid flow design that allows the electrodes to be easily replaced when they reach the end of their lifetime. In addition, the thickness of the electrodes is adapted according to the required area capacity and allows different types of electrode materials to be injected depending on the demand of the separation process, showing great versatility. This versatility is enhanced by adjusting the cell configuration to symmetric and asymmetric architectures by using different ionic exchange membranes and depending on the type of inlet and outlet solutions processed.

Advantages and Innovations
The main advantages and innovations of the technology are:

  • Electrodes are highly selective to specific ions that can be intercalated in their crystalline structure.
  • The ion capture and release processes are very reversible, since they correspond to ion intercalation /de-intercalation phenomena in metal-ion batteries. This reversibility leads to energy efficient processes.
  • The semi-solid design of electrodes allows injection and de-injection in the cell, thus facilitating the replacement at the end of their service life or if a change in the ion selectivity is required at any given time. This configuration also allows tailoring the mass loading of active material by making the electrode thinner of thicker on demand, therefore making ion pumping capacity to be tuneable to specific application requirements.

Market Applications:

  • Water treatment. This concept has application in the field of water treatment from industrial process effluents. Particularly for valorisation of dissolved species.
  • Primary and secondary raw materials. Potential users of the technology could also be companies that produce Lithium salts from brines of salt fields, lithium ores mining and recycling of Li-ion batteries.

Related Keywords

  • Industrial manufacturing, Material and Transport Technologies
  • Materials Technology
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Energy Technology
  • Renewable Sources of Energy
  • Waste to energy other
  • Integrated waste-energy processes
  • Energy Market

About IMDEA Energy

IMDEA Energy Institute was created in 2006 as non-profit Foundation to promote and carry out R&D&i activities to contribute to the development of a sustainable and decarbonised energy system.
IMDEA Energy is strongly committed to the transfer of R&D outcomes to the productive sector and to seek joint eff orts with other technology research centers and universities, promoting excellence in research on energy issues and complementarity among different entities. IMDEA Energy gathers cutting edge skills and significant experience in R&D, testing and assessment of energy technologies and offers these services to private companies, universities and research and technological centers.
Research lines:
- Production of sustainable fuels: hydrogen, biofuels and valorized wastes
- Solar power
- Energy storage: electrochemical, thermal and thermochemical systems
- Energy systems with enhanced efficiency
- Power systems and Demand Management
- Valorization of CO2 emissions
- Analysis and assessment of energy systems
In 2020, it obtained the accreditation of ‘María de Maeztu’ Unit of Excellence, granted by the State Research Agency to identify and promote excellence in high-impact scientific research.

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