Effect of Desorption Methods on Electrode Regeneration Performance of Capacitive Deionization

Abstract

Long regeneration time and substantial water usage in desorption cycles impose potential barriers for practical applications of capacitive deionization (CDI). In this research, a single-pass continuous-flow CDI cell was used to explore the effect of desorption methods on electrode regeneration performance. The results demonstrated effective nature of polarity reversal during electrode regeneration compared to the conventional short-circuit method. A reversed polarity with optimized duration and magnitude of cell voltage while purging with a proper flow scheme exhibited substantial reductions on regeneration time and flush-water usage during the desorption processes of CDI. The beneficial aspects of preferred desorption methods were attributable to minimization of a readsorption effect by limiting the rate of ion transport to the oppositely charged electrode. The results of this research are beneficial for improving the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of CDI systems for engineering applications.