ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF ION EXCHANGE MATERIAL

摘要

A method of treating an ion exchange material, the method including: (a) positioning at least two regions of ion exchange material between an anode and cathode electrode, wherein at least a portion of the two regions being in electrical contact and being separated by a non-ion specific permeable interface; (b) supplying water to the at least two regions; (c) applying an electric potential between the electrodes thereby causing generation of hydrogen ions at the anode and hydroxide ions at the cathode, which ions are caused to move through each region towards the oppositely-charged electrode and thereby displacing at least a portion of any anions or cations associated with the ion exchange material in each region such that the displaced anions and cations are also caused to move through the regions towards the oppositely charged electrode; and (d) removing at least some of the cations and/or anions formed during step (c) which reach the interface.