SBIR Phase II: Addressing Freshwater Salinization and Freshwater Scarcity with a Chloride Selective Removal and Recovery System

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是通过开发称为脱盐电池的新型脱盐技术，全面解决与水处理，环境保护和资源回收相关的问题。人口的稳步增长和工业的快速发展导致了对水生产的更大需求。与此同时，人类活动、农业做法和废水处理导致天然淡水资源盐碱化。脱盐电池结合了脱盐和发电的功能，以减少与脱盐相关的能源和成本，解决水-能源关系交叉点的挑战。所提出的研究的目标是通过评估存在于真实的给水类型中的各种溶液组分对脱盐电池的性能的影响来加速脱盐电池的商业化。成功开发海水淡化电池将有助于保障淡水资源的获取，确保充足的淡水供应，这对促进美国公众的健康和福利至关重要。该项目的总体目标是将一种新的海水淡化技术商业化，即海水淡化电池，该电池基于专利使用Bi作为Cl-存储电极与Na-存储电极的组合。与传统电池一样，海水淡化电池在充电和放电过程中储存和释放能量，但它们也与Na+和Cl-的储存和释放相耦合。由于在充电期间消耗的能量在放电期间被回收，因此脱盐所需的净能量大幅减少。此外，由于Na+和Cl-通过离子特异性电极反应去除，因此脱盐电池能够实现无膜脱盐。虽然已经证明了NaCl的有效去除，但真实的废水和海水中存在的各种其他溶液组分的影响仍然未知。拟议工作的目标是准确评估不同盐度、pH值条件以及真实的给水中存在的各种无机和有机物质对脱盐电池性能的影响，并为任何有问题的组件制定缓解计划。拟议工作的成功对于执行准确的技术经济计算至关重要，可以优先考虑最有前途的给水类型，以针对特定应用制定量身定制的商业化计划。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to comprehensively address issues related to water treatment, environment protection, and resource recovery through the development of a new desalination technology called a desalination battery. Steady growth in human population and rapid industrial development have led to greater demands for water production. At the same time, anthropogenic activities, agricultural practices, and the disposal of wastewater have led to salinization of natural freshwater resources. The desalination battery combines the functions of desalination and energy generation to reduce the energy and costs associated with desalination, addressing challenges at the intersection of the water-energy nexus. The goal of the proposed research is to accelerate the commercialization of the desalination battery by evaluating the effects of various solution components present in real feedwater types on the performance of the desalination battery. Successful development of the desalination battery will help to safeguard access to freshwater resources and ensure an adequate freshwater supply, which are essential to advance the health and welfare of the American public. The overall goal of this project is to commercialize a new desalination technology, a desalination battery, which is based on the patented use of Bi as a Cl-storage electrode in combination with a Na-storage electrode. Like conventional batteries, the desalination battery stores and releases energy during the charging and discharging processes, but they are also coupled with the storage and release of Na+ and Cl-. As the energy consumed during charging is recovered during discharging, the net energy required for desalination is drastically reduced. Furthermore, since Na+ and Cl- are removed via ion-specific electrode reactions, the desalination battery enables membrane-free desalination. While efficient removal of NaCl has been demonstrated, the effects of various other solution components present in real wastewater and seawater are still unknown. The goal of the proposed work is to accurately evaluate the effects of different salinities, pH conditions, and various inorganic and organic species present in real feedwater on the performance of the desalination battery and develop mitigation plans for any problematic components. The success of the proposed work is critical to perform accurate technoeconomic calculations to prioritize the most promising feedwater types to target and develop a tailored commercialization plan for specific applications.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.