1 research outputs found
Electrochemical Desalination of Seawater and Hypersaline Brines with Coupled Electricity Storage
We present a zinc|ferricyanide hybrid
flow battery that achieves
extensive first-pass desalination while simultaneously supplying electrical
energy (10 Wh/L). We demonstrate 85% salt removal from simulated seawater
(35 g/L NaCl) and 86% from hypersaline brine (100 g/L NaCl), together
with reversible battery operation over 100 h with high round-trip
efficiency (84.8%). The system has a high operating voltage (<i>E</i><sup>0</sup> = +1.25 V), low specific energy consumption
(2.11 Wh/L for 85% salt removal), and a desalination flux (4.7 mol/m<sup>2</sup>·h) on par with that of reverse osmosis membranes. Salt
removal was similarly effective at higher feed salinities, for which
reverse osmosis becomes physically impossible because of the pressure
required. The results have positive implications for regions that
rely on desalination for their freshwater needs, especially where
sea salinity is high. Alternatively,
the battery may also be useful in minimal liquid discharge wastewater
treatment if operated as a brine concentrator