Method and apparatus for the purification of water

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 or 2 further comprising the step of passing the water from the water stream path of the electrodialysis purifier through a second turbidity filter.

Claim 13

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path positioned between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path, and ion exchange membranes between said waste stream paths and said water stream path and between one said waste stream path and said anode, each of said anode, said water stream path, and said waste stream paths including an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said first turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said anode outlet, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet.

Claim 14

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path positioned between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path, and ion exchange membranes between said waste stream paths and said water stream path and between one said waste stream path and said anode, each of said anode, said water stream path, and said waste stream paths including an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said first turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said anode outlet, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet.

Claim 15

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path positioned between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path, and ion exchange membranes between said waste stream paths and said water stream path and between one said waste stream path and said anode, each of said anode, said water stream path, and said waste stream paths including an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media of activated charcoal, said first turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said anode outlet, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet.

Claim 16

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path positioned between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path, and ion exchange membranes between said waste stream paths and said water stream path and between one said waste stream path and said anode, each of said anode, said water stream path, and said waste stream paths including an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media of activated charcoal, said first turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said anode outlet, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet.

Claim 17

The water purification system of claim 9 or 10 further comprising a second turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said second turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said water stream path outlet.

Claim 18

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path located between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path, and ion exchange membranes separating said waste stream path most adjacent said anode from said anode, said water stream path, said waste stream paths, and said anode each having an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet; and a second turbidity filter including an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said second turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said water stream path outlet.

Claim 19

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path located between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path, and ion exchange membranes separating said waste stream path most adjacent said anode from said anode, said water stream path, said waste stream paths, and said anode each having an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet; and a second turbidity filter including an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said second turbidity filter inlet being in communication with said water stream path outlet.

Claim 20

The water purification system of claims 9, 10, or 12 wherein said anode outlet is in communication with at least one said waste stream path inlet.

Claim 21

The water purification system of claim 13 wherein said first turbidity filter is located between said anode outlet and said waste stream path inlets in communication with said anode outlet.

Claim 22

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path positioned between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path and between said anode and said cathode, ion exchange membranes separating each waste stream path from said water stream path and said waste stream path most adjacent said anode from said anode, said anode, said waste stream paths, and said water stream path each having an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media; and a second turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said anode outlet being in communication with said first turbidity filter inlet, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet, said anode outlet being in communication with at least one said waste stream path inlet, said water stream path outlet being in communication with said second turbidity filter inlet.

Claim 23

A water purification system, comprising an electrodialysis purifier having an anode, a cathode spaced from said anode, a water stream path positioned between said anode and said cathode, waste stream paths on either side of said water stream path and between said anode and said cathode, ion exchange membranes separating each waste stream path from said water stream path and said waste stream path most adjacent said anode from said anode, said anode, said waste stream paths, and said water stream path each having an inlet and an outlet; a first turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media; and a second turbidity filter having an inlet, an outlet and filter media, said anode outlet being in communication with said first turbidity filter inlet, said first turbidity filter outlet being in communication with said water stream path inlet, said anode outlet being in communication with at least one said waste stream path inlet, said water stream path outlet being in communication with said second turbidity filter inlet.

Claim 24

The water purification system of claim 15 wherein said first turbidity filter is positioned between said anode outlet and said waste stream path inlets in communication with said anode outlet.

Claim 25

The water purification system of claims 9, 10, 12 or 15 further comprising ion exchange beads positioned in said water stream path.

Claim 26

The water purification system of claim 9, 10, 12 or 15 further comprising ion exchange beads in said water stream path and ion exchange beads in at least one of said waste stream paths.

Claim 27

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; ion exchange beads in said water stream conduit; ion exchange membranes between said waste stream conduit and said water stream conduit; and screens between each said waste stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said waste stream conduit and between said water stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said water stream conduit, said screens having interstices smaller than the minor cross-sectional areas of said ion exchange beads.

Claim 28

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; ion exchange beads in said water stream conduit; ion exchange membranes between said waste stream conduit and said water stream conduit; and screens between each said waste stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said waste stream conduit and between said water stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said water stream conduit, said screens having interstices smaller than the minor cross-sectional areas of said ion exchange beads.

Claim 29

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 19 wherein said screens are bonded to each side of said waste stream paths and to each side of said water stream path adjacent said membranes.

Claim 30

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 19 wherein said screens are grafted with ion exchange sites.

Claim 31

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 21 wherein said ion exchange sites are opposite in sign from the most adjacent said ion exchange membrane.

Claim 32

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 19 further comprising a grafting of ion exchange sites on the waste stream walls and the water stream walls.

Claim 33

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 19 further comprising ion exchange beads located in at least one said waste stream conduit.

Claim 34

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 19 wherein a plurality of said waste stream paths are connected in series.

Claim 35

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; ion exchange beads in said water stream conduit; ion exchange membranes between said waste stream conduit and said water stream conduit; and ion exchange beads in a plurality of said waste stream conduit.

Claim 36

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; ion exchange beads in said water stream conduit; ion exchange membranes between said waste stream conduit and said water stream conduit; and ion exchange beads in a plurality of said waste stream conduit.

Claim 37

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 26 wherein said ion exchange beads in said waste stream conduit are cationic.

Claim 38

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 26 wherein said walls of all said water stream path and said waste stream paths are grafted with ion exchange sites.

Claim 39

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 26, 27, or 28 further including screens between each said waste stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said waste stream conduit and between said water stream conduit and each said membrane adjacent said water stream conduit, said screens being grafted with ion exchange sites.

Claim 40

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 29 wherein said screens are grafted with sites opposite in sign from the most adjacent ion exchange membrane.

Claim 41

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising a water stream outlet, and a plurality of water stream ribs, said water stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said water stream inlet to said water stream outlet defining water stream conduits therebetween, said water stream ribs lying in a planar arrangements; waste stream members positioned on either side of said water stream member, each said waste stream member having a waste stream inlet, a waste stream outlet and a plurality of waste stream ribs, said waste stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said waste stream inlet to said waste stream outlet defining waste stream conduits therebetween, said waste stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement and being laterally positioned to overlay the water stream ribs through a substantial portion of their length; ion exchange membranes positioned between each said waste stream member and said water stream member, said membranes separating said waste stream conduits from said water streams, an anode on a first side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members; a cathode on a second, opposite side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members.

Claim 42

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising a water stream outlet, and a plurality of water stream ribs, said water stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said water stream inlet to said water stream outlet defining water stream conduits therebetween, said water stream ribs lying in a planar arrangements; waste stream members positioned on either side of said water stream member, each said waste stream member having a waste stream inlet, a waste stream outlet and a plurality of waste stream ribs, said waste stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said waste stream inlet to said waste stream outlet defining waste stream conduits therebetween, said waste stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement and being laterally positioned to overlay the water stream ribs through a substantial portion of their length; ion exchange membranes positioned between each said waste stream member and said water stream member, said membranes separating said waste stream conduits from said water streams, an anode on a first side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members; a cathode on a second, opposite side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members.

Claim 43

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 31 further comprising an anolyte stream member having an anolyte inlet, an anolyte outlet, an internal cavity for containing said anode and defining an anolyte stream conduit and structural member aligned with said ribs of said other members; and an additional ion exchange member positioned between said anolyte member and one said waste stream member to separate said anolyte stream conduit from said waste stream conduit of said adjacent waste stream member.

Claim 44

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 31 further comprising screens positioned immediately adjacent and on either side of said ion exchange membrane.

Claim 45

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 33 wherein said screens are bonded to each side of said water stream member and each side of said waste stream members.

Claim 46

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 33 wherein said screens are grafted with ion exchange sites.

Claim 47

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 33 wherein said ion exchange sites are opposite in sign from the most adjacent membrane.

Claim 48

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 31 wherein said water stream ribs include grafted ion exchange sites thereon.

Claim 49

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 37 further comprising grafted ion exchange sites on said waste stream ribs.

Claim 50

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 31 wherein said water stream conduits include ion exchange beads positioned therein.

Claim 51

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 39 wherein said waste stream conduit include ion exchange beads contained therein.

Claim 52

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 31 further comprising two end plates positioned outwardly of said water stream member, said waste stream members, said anode, said cathode, and said membranes to hold and support same together, said end plates including fasteners extending therebetween to hold said end plates toward one another.

Claim 53

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 31 wherein said anode is an expanded grid of niobium plated with a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of lead dioxide and manganese dioxide.

Claim 54

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising a water stream member having a water stream inlet, a water stream outlet, and a plurality of water stream ribs, said water stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said water stream inlet to said water stream outlet, defining water stream conduits therebetween, said water stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement; waste stream members positioned on either side of said water stream member and having a waste stream inlet, a waste stream outlet and a plurality of waste stream ribs, said waste stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said waste stream inlet to said waste stream outlet defining waste stream conduits therebetween, said waste stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement and being laterally positioned to overlay the waste stream ribs through a substantial portion of their length; screens positioned on either side of said water stream member parallel to the planar arrangement; ion exchange membranes positioned between each waste stream member and water stream member, said membranes separating said waste stream conduits from said water stream conduits; ion exchange beads positioned within said water stream conduits and said waste stream conduits; an anode on one side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members; and a cathode on the other side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members.

Claim 55

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising a water stream member having a water stream inlet, a water stream outlet, and a plurality of water stream ribs, said water stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said water stream inlet to said water stream outlet, defining water stream conduits therebetween, said water stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement; waste stream members positioned on either side of said water stream member and having a waste stream inlet, a waste stream outlet and a plurality of waste stream ribs, said waste stream ribs being mutually parallel and extending from said waste stream inlet to said waste stream outlet defining waste stream conduits therebetween, said waste stream ribs lying in a planar arrangement and being laterally positioned to overlay the waste stream ribs through a substantial portion of their length; screens positioned on either side of said water stream member parallel to the planar arrangement; ion exchange membranes positioned between each waste stream member and water stream member, said membranes separating said waste stream conduits from said water stream conduits; ion exchange beads positioned within said water stream conduits and said waste stream conduits; an anode on one side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members; and a cathode on the other side of the assembly of said water stream member and said waste stream members.

Claim 56

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 43 further comprising additional said waste stream members, water stream members, ion exchange membranes, screens, and ion exchange beads positioned between said anode and said cathode.

Claim 57

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 44 further comprising a second cathode positioned on the opposite side of said anode from said first cathode, and additional said water stream members, waste stream members, ion exchange membranes, screens and ion exchange beads between said anode and said second cathode.

Claim 58

The electrodialysis purifier of claims 43, 44 or 45 wherein said waste stream conduits are hydraulically arranged in series.

Claim 59

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 31 or 43 further comprising alignment tubes extending between said members, said tubes being hollow to conduct flow between said members.

Claim 60

An electrodialysis purifier cathode buffer for a cathode, comprising a cationic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from the cathode defining a first waste stream buffer conduit between said cationic exchange membrane and the cathode; an anionic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cationic exchange membrane further removed from the cathode defining a second waste stream buffer conduit between said cationic exchange membrane and said anionic exchange membrane.

Claim 61

An electrodialysis purifier cathode buffer for a cathode, comprising a cationic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from the cathode defining a first waste stream buffer conduit between said cationic exchange membrane and the cathode; an anionic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cationic exchange membrane further removed from the cathode defining a second waste stream buffer conduit between said cationic exchange membrane and said anionic exchange membrane.

Claim 62

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; and a cathode buffer including a cationic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cathode defining a first waste stream buffer conduit therebetween and an anionic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cationic exchange membrane defining a second waste stream buffer conduit therebetween further removed from said cathode.

Claim 63

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; and a cathode buffer including a cationic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cathode defining a first waste stream buffer conduit therebetween and an anionic exchange membrane positioned adjacent and spaced from said cationic exchange membrane defining a second waste stream buffer conduit therebetween further removed from said cathode.

Claim 64

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 49 further comprising an anolyte waste stream conduit at said anode, said anolyte waste stream being in communication with said first waste stream buffer conduit and being in communication with said second waste stream buffer conduit for anolyte flow to each said buffer conduit.

Claim 65

The electrodialysis purifier of claim 49 wherein said water stream path is in communication with said first waste stream buffer conduit and is in communication with said second waste stream buffer conduit for product water flow to each said buffer conduit.

Claim 66

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; ion exchange membranes between said waste steam conduit and said water stream conduit; a surge system associated with said waste stream paths, said surge system including a first and second outlet connected in parallel, said first outlet including a flow restrictor and said outlet including a valve means, said second outlet having less restrictions than said first outlet with said restrictor when said valve means is open.

Claim 67

An electrodialysis purifier, comprising an anode; a cathode spaced from said anode; a water stream path having walls defining a water stream conduit; waste stream paths having walls defining waste stream conduits on either side of said water stream conduit and between said anode and said cathode; ion exchange membranes between said waste steam conduit and said water stream conduit; a surge system associated with said waste stream paths, said surge system including a first and second outlet connected in parallel, said first outlet including a flow restrictor and said outlet including a valve means, said second outlet having less restrictions than said first outlet with said restrictor when said valve means is open.