Apparatus and method for membrane electrolysis for process chemical recycling

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an membrane electrolysis (ME) unit is configured with a first cell frame, a second cell frame each having a compartment. The collective compartments of these cell frames houses an anode, a cathode, a first membrane positioned between the anode and the cathode, and a plurality of screen spacers. A first screen spacer is positioned between the anode and the first membrane while a second screen spacer is positioned between the cathode and the first membrane.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a first cell frame;    a second cell frame; and    a compartment formed between the first cell frame and the second cell frame, the compartment to house an anode, a cathode and a first membrane positioned between the anode and the cathode.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of screen spacers including a first screen spacer positioned between the anode and the first membrane and a second screen spacer positioned between the cathode and the first membrane.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anode is configured as a self-supporting screen including at least one connector for attachment to a bus bar situated on a top edge of the first cell frame.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cathode is configured as a mesh screen having at least one connector protruding from the mesh screen for coupling with a bus bar on a top edge of the second cell frame.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein at least one sidewall of the second cell frame is either translucent or transparent.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  being a membrane electrolysis (ME) unit to recover chemical elements.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  being a membrane electrolysis (ME) unit to remove a chemical element from a process solution for recycling of the chemical element.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a first clamping frame situated adjacent to the first cell frame so that the first cell frame is between the first clamping frame and the first screen spacer;  
 a second clamping frame situated adjacent to the second cell frame so that the second cell frame is between the second clamping frame and the second screen spacer;  
 a plurality of fastening rods inserted through apertures of the first clamping frame and the second clamping frame; and  
 a plurality of fastening components each positioned on a corresponding end of one of the plurality of fastening rods.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of fastening components is threaded on the corresponding end of the one of the plurality of fastening rods.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second clamping frame includes an opening to enable viewing of at least one sidewall of the second cell frame being either translucent or transparent.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second cell frame further comprises an in-flow port and an out-flow port both placed along a perimeter of the second cell frame, the out-flow port positioned above the in-flow port.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the compartment formed by the first cell frame and the second cell frame to further house a non-conductive frame, a third spacer positioned between the non-conductive frame and the first membrane, a second membrane positioned between the second spacer and the non-conductive frame, and a fourth spacer positioned between the non-conductive frame and the second membrane.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second cell frame includes an end wall that is either transparent or translucent to enable viewing of the cathode.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a first cell frame including a first compartment housing an anode; and    a second cell frame including a second compartment housing a cathode,    wherein the first compartment and the second compartment collectively form a compartment to additionally house at least (i) a first membrane positioned between the anode and the cathode and (ii) a first spacer positioned between the cathode of the second cell frame and the first membrane.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a second spacer positioned between the anode and the first membrane.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a third cell frame including an anode, a fourth cell frame including a cathode, and a non-conductive frame interposed between (1) the first cell frame and the second cell frame, and (2) the third cell frame and the fourth cell frame.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a sidewall of both the first cell frame and the fourth cell frame is either translucent or transparent.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  being a membrane electrolysis (ME) unit to recover chemical elements.  
     
     
         19 . A system comprising: 
 a unit containing a process solution including chemical elements to be recovered;    a process line in fluid communications with the unit; and    a membrane electrolysis (ME) unit in fluid communications with the unit via the process line, the ME unit comprising 
 a first cell frame including a first compartment that houses an anode, and  
 a second cell frame including a second compartment that houses a cathode and faces the first compartment, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment collectively form a compartment to additionally house (i) at least a first membrane positioned between the anode and the cathode, (ii) a first spacer positioned between the cathode of the second cell frame and the first membrane, and (iii) a second spacer positioned between the anode of the first cell frame and the first membrane.  
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the unit comprises a holding container with a connector for adaptation to the process line.