Electrohydromodulating process for recovering nutrients, mineralizing organics, and inactivating pathogens in wastewater
Inventors
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Assignees
MemberUniversity of MiamiUniversity of MiamiThe University of Miami, established in 1925 and based in Coral Gables, Florida, is a private research university recognized for its comprehensive academic offerings, robust research infrastructure, and strong interdisciplinary focus. Home to more than 19,000 students and with more than 400 acres of campuses across the Miami region, its mission encompasses education, research, innovation, and community service. The institution supports clinical, biomedical, marine, and atmospheric research initiatives, delivers diverse undergraduate and graduate programs, and maintains numerous research centers and institutes dedicated to scientific, medical, and societal advancements.
The University of Miami, established in 1925 and based in Coral Gables, Florida, is a private research university recognized for its comprehensive academic offerings, robust research infrastructure, and strong interdisciplinary focus. Home to more than 19,000 students and with more than 400 acres of campuses across the Miami region, its mission encompasses education, research, innovation, and community service. The institution supports clinical, biomedical, marine, and atmospheric research initiatives, delivers diverse undergraduate and graduate programs, and maintains numerous research centers and institutes dedicated to scientific, medical, and societal advancements.
Publication Number
US-12630452-B2
Publication Date
2026-05-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for electrohydromodulation of wastewater. In an embodiment, the system comprises an anode in contact with at least one anodic chamber and a cathode in contact with a cathodic chamber. Each anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber are configured to receive a flow of wastewater. A first multivalent cation exchange membrane, between each anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber, allows multivalent cations to pass therethrough while preventing monovalent ions to pass therethrough. A power source is electrically coupled to each anode and the cathode, and is configured to apply a voltage across wastewater in the anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber, to thereby cause multivalent cations in the wastewater to pass through the multivalent cation exchange membrane.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides an electrohydromodulation (EHM) wastewater system in which an anodic chamber and a cathodic chamber are separated by a multivalent cation exchange membrane. The multivalent cation exchange membrane allows multivalent cations to pass therethrough while preventing monovalent ions to pass therethrough. A power source applies a voltage across wastewater in the anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber to cause multivalent cations in the wastewater to pass through the membrane.
The system is further configured to include a second anodic chamber and a second multivalent cation exchange membrane, positioned between the second anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber. In the described flow configuration, wastewater passes from an exterior of the first anodic chamber into the first anodic chamber, then to the cathodic chamber, then to the second anodic chamber, and out of the second anodic chamber. This multichamber configuration supports electrohydromodulation while maintaining ion selectivity via the multivalent cation exchange membranes.
In at least one implementation, the system comprises a plurality of cells stacked between two securement plates, where each cell includes an anode, a cathode, and the multivalent cation exchange membrane. Gaskets define multiple flow paths, including a first flow path defining a first anodic chamber and a second flow path defining a separate second anodic chamber, while a third flow path defines the cathodic chamber. In the described cell stack, the first anode is in contact with both the first and second anodic chambers and the cathode is in contact with the cathodic chamber.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include two independent claims covering an EHM wastewater system and a method for electrohydromodulation of wastewater. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are multivalent cation exchange membrane ion selectivity paired with voltage-driven multivalent cation transfer, multichamber reactor arrangement, and downstream extraction steps tied to carbon dioxide stripping and ammonia gas extraction as part of phosphate precipitation and phosphate extraction in the cathodic chamber. Additional disclosed refinements include stacked-cell construction with defined gasket flow paths and periodic polarity reversal.
Multivalent cation-selective membrane between anodic and cathodic chambers
A system for electrohydromodulation of wastewater comprising a first multivalent cation exchange membrane between the first anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber, wherein the multivalent cation exchange membrane allows multivalent cations to pass therethrough while preventing monovalent ions to pass therethrough.
Voltage-driven multivalent cation transfer between electrodes
A power source electrically coupled to the first anode and the cathode, wherein the power source is configured to apply a voltage across wastewater in the first anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber, to thereby cause multivalent cations in the wastewater to pass through the multivalent cation exchange membrane.
First and second anodic chambers with corresponding membranes
The system further comprising a second anodic chamber configured to receive the flow of wastewater after the cathodic chamber; a second anode in contact with the second anodic chamber; and a second multivalent cation exchange membrane between the second anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber.
Stacked-cell architecture with gasket-defined anodic and cathodic chambers
A system comprising a plurality of cells stacked between two securement plates, wherein each of the plurality of cells comprises the first anode; the cathode; the first multivalent cation exchange membrane; a first gasket sandwiched between the first anode and the first multivalent cation exchange membrane on a first side, wherein the first gasket defines a first flow path and a second flow path including a first inlet and outlet for the first anodic chamber and a second inlet and outlet for a separate second anodic chamber; and a second gasket sandwiched between the cathode and the first multivalent cation exchange membrane on a second side defining a third flow path for the cathodic chamber including a third inlet and outlet.
Continuous-flow multichamber reactor with carbon dioxide stripping and voltage pH control
A method for electrohydromodulation of wastewater comprising providing a continuous flow of wastewater through a reactor that comprises a first anodic chamber, a second anodic chamber, a cathodic chamber, and a multivalent cation exchange member between the first anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber and between the second anodic chamber and the cathodic chamber, wherein the continuous flow comprises a path from an exterior of the first anodic chamber to the first anodic chamber to the cathodic chamber to the second anodic chamber to an exterior of the second anodic chamber; stripping carbon dioxide from the wastewater in the first anodic chamber; and after stripping the carbon dioxide, applying a voltage between the first anode and the cathode and between the second anode and the cathode to decrease pH of wastewater in the first anodic chamber and the second anodic chamber and increase pH of wastewater in the cathodic chamber, to thereby cause precipitation of phosphates in the cathodic chamber.
Phosphate and ammonia gas extraction in defined reactor regions
The method further comprising extracting the precipitated phosphates from the wastewater in the cathodic chamber; and extracting ammonia gas from the wastewater in the path between the cathodic chamber and the second anodic chamber.
Collectively, the independent claims cover an electrohydromodulation system and method that rely on multivalent cation exchange membranes that pass multivalent cations while preventing monovalent ions, voltage application across anodic and cathodic chambers, a multichamber flow path including first and second anodic chambers, and linked process outcomes including carbon dioxide stripping, phosphate precipitation with phosphate extraction in the cathodic chamber, and ammonia gas extraction from the flow path between the cathodic chamber and the second anodic chamber. In addition, system configurations include stacked cells between securement plates with gasket-defined flow paths.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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