Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

1-1-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S. in Engineering Science

First Advisor

Alexander Lopez

Second Advisor

Brenda Hutton-Prager

School

University of Mississippi

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

An electrokinetic separation method known as Resin Wafer Electrodeionization (RW-EDI) is recognized as a promising technology for energy efficient desalination of brackish water. However RW-EDI is limited by an inherent drawback of its ion exchange media that prevents the largescale deployment of this technology. This research was undertaken to optimize the conventional resin wafer used in RW-EDI through the incorporation of high conducting polyionic liquids (PILs). It was hypothesized that by the changing non-conducting polyethylene binder with a PIL binder in conventional resin wafer configurations ion conductivity within the resin bed would be enhanced and could lead to an improvement in specific energy consumption (SEC) of RW-EDI. Two different formulations were developed in the fabrication of the phosphonium based PIL-RW and tested in the EDI system at varied applied voltages. The results shothat the amount of PIL used had a significant impact on the mechanical and conductive properties of the resin wafer as well as EDI performance. In the EDI system a decrease in SEC was achieved when PIL-RW with a reduced PIL/resin ratio was employed in comparison to conventional polyethylene-based resin wafers. Furthermore it was concluded that an applied voltage of 6V was optimal for the two-cell pair EDI system.

Included in

Engineering Commons

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