System for the extraction and utilization of oxygen and other ligands from fluids.

摘要

Extn. of O2 from a fluid is effected by (a) contacting the fluid with an outer surface of an O2-permeable membrane whose whose inner surface is in contact with a carrier fluid in a closed container, where the carrier fluid contains an O2 carrier in a binding state such that it binds to O2 diffusing through the membrane to form a complex; (b) transporting the complex-contg. carrier fluid to a 1st electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell forming part of the closed container; (c) electrochemically modifying the O2 carrier to an oxidn. state with less binding affinity for O2, thus releasing free O2 into the carrier fluid and producing a non-binding O2 carrier; (d) removing O2 from the carrier fluid; (e) transporting the carrier fluid to a 2nd electrode compartment forming part of the closed container; and (f) 2nd electrode compartment forming part of the closed container; and (f) electrochemically modifying the O2 carrier to regenerate its binding state. Also claimed is a process similar to steps (b)-(f) for reversibly removing a ligand from a ligand carrier.