Importance

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Abstract

A electrochemical cell for removing ions from a solution stream comprises a housing having first and second electrodes. At least one water-splitting ion exchange membrane is positioned between the electrodes, the water-splitting membrane comprising (i) a cation exchange surface facing the first electrode, and (ii) an anion exchange surface facing the second electrode. A solution stream pathway is defined by the water-splitting membrane. The solution stream pathway comprises (i) an inlet for influent solution stream, (ii) at least one channel that allows influent solution stream to flow past at least one surface of the water-splitting membrane to form one or more treated solution streams, and (iii) a single outlet that combines the treated solution streams to form a single effluent solution. Preferably, the solution stream pathway comprises a unitary and contiguous channel that flows past both the cation and anion exchange surfaces of the water-splitting membrane, and more preferably is connected throughout in an unbroken sequence and extends substantially continuously from the inlet to the outlet.

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First Claim