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

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是，通过开发一种名为海水淡化电池的新海水淡化技术，全面解决与水处理、环境保护和资源回收相关的问题。人口的稳定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、农业实践和废水处理导致了自然淡水资源的盐碱化。海水淡化电池结合了海水淡化和发电的功能，以减少与海水淡化相关的能源和成本，解决水-能源关系交叉点的挑战。拟议研究的目标是通过评估实际给水类型中存在的各种溶液成分对海水淡化电池性能的影响，加快海水淡化电池的商业化进程。海水淡化电池的成功开发将有助于保障淡水资源的获取，并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--一种海水淡化电池--商业化，该电池基于将铋作为氯存储电极与钠存储电极相结合的专利使用。与传统电池一样，海水淡化电池在充放电过程中储存和释放能量，但同时也伴随着Na和Cl-的储存和释放。由于充电过程中消耗的能量在排放过程中得到回收，海水淡化所需的净能量大大减少。此外，由于通过离子特定的电极反应去除Na和Cl-，海水淡化电池能够实现无膜海水淡化。虽然已经证明了有效地去除氯化钠，但实际废水和海水中存在的各种其他溶液成分的影响仍不清楚。拟议工作的目标是准确评估不同盐度、pH条件以及实际给水中存在的各种无机和有机物种对海水淡化电池性能的影响，并为任何有问题的成分制定缓解计划。拟议工作的成功对于进行准确的技术经济计算至关重要，以确定最有希望的给水类型的优先顺序，并为特定应用制定定制的商业化计划。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.