US-20260125298-A1 - ELECTRO-DIALYTIC CRYSTALLIZERS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

US20260125298A1US 20260125298 A1US20260125298 A1US 20260125298A1US-20260125298-A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein are electro-dialytic crystallizers and methods of use thereof. For example, described herein are electro-dialytic crystallizer systems comprising an electro-dialysis module and a crystallizer module in liquid communication with the electrodialysis module. The electrodialysis module is configured to receive an aqueous feedwater solution and form a diluate stream and a brine stream, the aqueous feedwater solution comprising an ionic component, the diluate stream having a lower concentration of the ionic component relative to the aqueous feedwater solution, and the brine stream having a higher concentration of the ionic component relative to the aqueous feedwater solution. The crystallizer module is configured to receive the brine stream and form crystals comprising the ionic component and a supernatant. Also disclosed herein are methods of use of any of the systems disclosed herein, for example using the system to treat the aqueous feedwater solution. WO

Inventors

Shihong Lin

Assignees

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20231006

Claims (20)

1 . An electro-dialytic crystallizer system comprising: an electrodialysis module; and a crystallizer module in liquid communication with the electrodialysis module; wherein the electrodialysis module is configured to receive an aqueous feedwater solution and form a diluate stream and a brine stream, the aqueous feedwater solution comprising an ionic component, the diluate stream having a lower concentration of the ionic component relative to the aqueous feedwater solution, and the brine stream having a higher concentration of the ionic component relative to the aqueous feedwater solution; wherein the electrodialysis module comprises: a feed channel configured to receive the aqueous feedwater solution; an ion exchange membrane; a brine channel; and a voltage source; wherein the ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the feed channel and the brine channel; wherein the ion exchange membrane is in electrochemical and liquid communication with both the feed channel and the brine channel; wherein the voltage source is configured to apply an electric field across the feed channel, ion exchange membrane, and brine channel, such that (when the electric field is applied) the ionic component migrates from the feed channel, across the ion exchange membrane, and into the brine channel, thereby forming the diluate stream in the feed channel and the brine stream in the brine channel; wherein the crystallizer module is configured to receive the brine stream from the brine channel and form crystals comprising the ionic component and a supernatant; wherein the ion exchange membrane comprises an anion exchange membrane, a cation exchange membrane, or a combination thereof; and wherein the ion exchange membrane is selective for a target ion.
2 . (canceled)
3 . (canceled)
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrodialysis module comprises a first feed channel, a second feed channel, a first ion exchange membrane, and a second exchange membrane, wherein the first exchange membrane forms a boundary between the first feed channel and the brine channel, and the second ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the second feed channel and the brine channel.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first ion exchange membrane is a cation exchange membrane and/or the second ion exchange membrane is an anion exchange membrane.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrodialysis module comprises a first feed channel, a second feed channel, a first brine channel, a second brine channel, a first ion exchange membrane, a second exchange membrane, and a third ion exchange membrane, wherein the first exchange membrane forms a boundary between the first feed channel and the first brine channel, the second ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the second feed channel and the first brine channel, and the third ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the second feed channel and the second brine channel.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a filtration module in liquid communication with the crystallizer module, wherein the filtration module is configured to separate the crystals from the supernatant.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the filtration module is further in liquid communication with the electrodialysis module.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the brine channel is further configured to receive the supernatant from the crystallizer module and/or the filtration module.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the crystallizer module is further configured to receive a reactant that reacts with the target ion to form crystals within the crystallizer module.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a reverse osmosis module in liquid communication with the electrodialysis module, wherein the reverse osmosis module is configured to receive the diluate stream from the feed channel and subject the diluate stream to reverse osmosis to form a water stream and an effluent stream.
12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a collection container in liquid communication with the reverse osmosis module, the collection container being configured to receive and store the water stream from the reverse osmosis module.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the feed channel is further configured to receive the effluent stream from the reverse osmosis module.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic component comprises a salt, an electrolyte, or a combination thereof.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic component comprises an alkali metal salt, a sulfate, a nitrate, a halide, or a combination thereof.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic component comprises a potassium salt, a sodium salt, a sulfate, a nitrate, a chloride, or a combination thereof.
17 . (canceled)
18 . (canceled)
19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a zero liquid discharge system.
20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous feedwater solution comprises a salt solution, produced water, brine, or a combination thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63/416,032 filed Oct. 14, 2022 and U.S. Provisional Application 63/433,528 filed Dec. 19, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT This invention was made with government support under grant/contract number DE-FOA-0001905 awarded by the US Department of Energy. The government has certain rights in the invention. BACKGROUND The management of hazardous high-salinity brines represents a prominent environmental challenge to water sustainability. A large volume of highly saline brine is generated from the energy, mining, and desalination industries. Current brine management commonly relies on evaporation ponds or injection into deep subterranean formations, which are plagued with the concerns of induced seismicity, negative impacts on groundwater, and the removal of accessible water from the hydrologic cycle. Therefore, zero liquid discharge (ZLD) is the preferred brine management approach and a key component of water circularity. However, achieving cost-effective zero liquid discharge is technically challenging due to the very high salinity (i.e., total dissolved solids, or TDS) of the brines. Improved devices and methods for brine management are needed. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein address these and other needs. SUMMARY In accordance with the purposes of the disclosed devices, methods, and systems as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosed subject matter relates to electro-dialytic crystallizers and methods of use thereof. For example, described herein are electro-dialytic crystallizer systems comprising an electrodialysis module and a crystallizer module in liquid communication with the electrodialysis module. The electrodialysis module is configured to receive an aqueous feedwater solution and form a diluate stream and a brine stream, the aqueous feedwater solution comprising an ionic component (e.g., one or more ionic components), the diluate stream having a lower concentration of the ionic component relative to the aqueous feedwater solution, and the brine stream having a higher concentration of the ionic component relative to the aqueous feedwater solution. The electrodialysis module comprises: a feed channel (e.g., one or more feed channels) configured to receive the aqueous feedwater solution; an ion exchange membrane (e.g., one or more ion exchange membranes); a brine channel (e.g., one or more brine channels); and a voltage source. The ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the feed channel and the brine channel. The ion exchange membrane is in electrochemical and liquid communication with both the feed channel and the brine channel. The voltage source is configured to apply an electric field across the feed channel, ion exchange membrane, and brine channel, such that (when the electric field is applied) the ionic component migrates from the feed channel, across the ion exchange membrane, and into the brine channel, thereby forming the diluate stream in the feed channel and the brine stream in the brine channel. The crystallizer module is configured to receive the brine stream from the brine channel and form crystals comprising the ionic component and a supernatant. In some examples, the ion exchange membrane comprises an anion exchange membrane, a cation exchange membrane, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the ion exchange membrane is selective for a target ion. In some examples, the electrodialysis module comprises a first feed channel, a second feed channel, a first ion exchange membrane, and a second exchange membrane, wherein the first exchange membrane forms a boundary between the first feed channel and the brine channel, and the second ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the second feed channel and the brine channel. In some examples, the first ion exchange membrane is a cation exchange membrane and/or the second ion exchange membrane is an anion exchange membrane. In some examples, the electrodialysis module comprises a first feed channel, a second feed channel, a first brine channel, a second brine channel, a first ion exchange membrane, a second exchange membrane, and a third ion exchange membrane, wherein the first exchange membrane forms a boundary between the first feed channel and the first brine channel, the second ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the second feed channel and the first brine channel, and the third ion exchange membrane forms a boundary between the second feed channel and the second brine channel. In some examples, the system further comprises a filtration module in liquid communication with the crystallizer module, wherein the filtration module is configured to separate the crystals from the supernatant. In some examples, the filtration module is further in liquid communication with the electrodialysis modu