Capacitive deionization of NaCl and NaNO3 solutions with carbon aerogel electrodes

A process for the capacitive deionization of water with a stack of carbon aerogel electrodes has been developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Unlike ion exchange, one of the more conventional deionization processes, no chemicals are required for regeneration of the system. Electricity is used instead. Water with various anions and cations is pumped through the electrochemical cell. After polarization, ions are electrostatically removed from the water and held in the electric double layers formed at the surfaces of electrodes. The water leaving the cell is purified, as desired. The effects of cell voltage and cycling on the electrosorption capacities for NaCl and NaNO3 have been investigated and are reported here.