Developing a CDI Desalination System on a Laboratory Scale Using Active Carbon Electrodes

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging energy efficient, low-pressure and low-cost intensive desalination process that has recently attracted experts’ attention. The process is to explain that ions (cations and anions) can be separated by a pure electrostatic force imposed by a small bias potential. Even at a rather low voltage of 1.2 V, desalinated water can be produced. The process can be well operational by a professional cell design. Although various processes have been manufactured before, in this study, membrane was removed and a new unit was designed and manufactured (Using CFD Simulation). In this case, the combination of activated carbon powder (with an effective surface area of 2600 m2 per gram), carbon black, and polyvinyl alcohol with a ratio of 35/35/30 coated on carbon paper as electrode materials was considered for tests. The weight was 1.41 grams for each material, and the thickness was 0.44 mm. CDI system was tested, and the results of charge-discharge cycles, cyclic voltammetry, and impedance spectroscopy were evaluated. It can be implied that there is no need for a strong pump and, also, pressure drop can be reduced due to such a noticeable space between two electrodes. Preliminary experimental results showed high specific capacitance (2.1 Farad) and ultra-high salt adsorption capacity, compared with similar cases.