Apparatus and method of preparing a solution containing cations and anions

Abstract

Ions are important for human life. The current method to choose the ions type and the concentration is the traditional chemical dissolving ways. The invention proposes an apparatus and a method of preparing a solution ( 5 ) containing cations and anions. The apparatus comprises: at least one cation releasing module ( 10 ), each of which is configured to release at least one type of cations; at least one anion releasing module ( 12 ), each of which is configured to release at least one type of anions; and a controller ( 14 ) configured to control at least one said cation releasing module ( 10 ) and at least one said anion releasing module ( 12 ) to release corresponding types of ions. The embodiment of the invention automatically prepares a solution by respectively controlling the cations and the anions.

1 . An apparatus of preparing a solution containing cations and anions, comprising:
 at least one cation releasing module, each of which is configured to release at least one type of cations;   at least one anion releasing module, each of which is configured to release at least one type of anions;   a controller configured to control at least one said cation releasing module and at least one said anion releasing module to release corresponding types of ions;   wherein, the apparatus comprises at least two cation releasing modules ( 10 ,  10 ′) and/or the apparatus comprises at least two anion releasing modules ( 12 ,  12 ″).   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, the cation releasing module comprises:
 a metal and/or alloy electrode connected to the controller and configured to immerse in the solution;   the controller is configured to apply a positive voltage on the metal and/or alloy electrode such that cations are released into the solution.   
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cation releasing module comprises a first container for containing a first electrolyte containing said type of cations, the first container having a cationic membrane separating the first electrolyte with the solution,
 the controller is configured to apply a positive voltage to the first electrolyte such that said type of cations are released into the solution through the cationic membrane.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the anion releasing module comprises a second container for containing a second electrolyte containing said type of anions, the second container has an anionic membrane for separating the second electrolyte with the solution,
 the controller is configured to apply a negative voltage to the second electrolyte such that said type of anions are released into the solution through the anionic membrane.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cation releasing module comprises a cation complexed polymer and/or gel storing the cations and configured to immerse in the solution,
 the controller is configured to electrolyze water in the solution and generate H +  ions which enter the cation complexed polymer and/or gel and exchange said type of cations out of the polymer and/or gel and into the solution;   and/or   the anion releasing module comprises an anion complexed polymer and/or gel storing the anions and configured to immerse in the solution,   the controller is configured to electrolyze water in the solution and generate OH −   ions which enter the anion complexed polymers and/or gels and exchange said type of anions out of the polymers and/or gels and into the solution.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, the controller provides the cation releasing module and the anion releasing module with currents to release ions;
 the controller is configured to determine an amplitude of the current flowing through each cation releasing module and flowing time, according to a first concentration of the corresponding cations; and/or   the controller is configured to determine an amplitude of the current flowing through each anion releasing module and flowing time according to a second concentration of the corresponding anions;   wherein the controller is configured to control an amplitude of the currents and flowing time for the cation releasing module and the anion releasing module to maintain the total electricity of the generated cations and the total electricity of the generated anions equal; and   the apparatus further comprises:
 a third container for containing the solution. 
   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first unit configured to obtain information concerning a usage of the solution;   a second unit configured to determine the a first type of the cations and/or the a second type of the anions in the solution according to the obtained information;   said controller selects at least one said cation releasing module and/or at least one said anion releasing module according to the determined first type of the cations and/or the determined second type of the anions.   
     
     
         9 . A method of preparing solution containing cations and anions, comprising the steps of:
 selecting at least one from at least one cation releasing module to release respective cations;   selecting at least one from at least one anions releasing module to release respective anions;
 wherein the cation releasing module comprises at least two modules respectively for different types of cations, and/or 
 the anions releasing module comprises at least modules respectively for different types of cations. 
   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the cation releasing module comprises:
 a metal and/or alloy electrode connected to an anode and configured to immerse in the solution;   and the first selecting step comprises:   applying a positive voltage on the metal and/or alloy electrode such that the metal cations are released into the solution.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the cation releasing module comprises a first container for containing a first electrolyte containing the type of cations, the first container having a layer of cationic membrane for separating the first electrolyte with the solution,
 and the first selecting step comprises:   applying a positive voltage to the first electrolyte such that the cations are released into the solution through the cationic membrane.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the anion releasing module comprises a second container for containing a second electrolyte containing the anions, the second container has a layer of anionic membrane for separating the second electrolyte with the solution,
 and the second selecting step comprises:   applying a negative voltage to the second electrolyte such that the anions are released into the solution through the anionic membrane.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein, the first and second selecting step provides the cation anion releasing module and the anion releasing module with current to release ions;
 the method further comprises:   determining the amplitude of the current flowing through each cation releasing module and flowing time, according to a first concentration of the corresponding cations; and/or   determining the amplitude of the current flowing through each anion releasing module and flowing time according to a second concentration of the corresponding anions;   and comprises:   controlling the amplitude of the currents and flowing time for the cation releasing module and the anion releasing module, to maintain the total electricity of the generated cations and the total electricity of the generated anions equal.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 9 ,
 further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining information concerning a usage of the solution; 
 determining a first type of the cations and/or a second type of the anions in the solution according to the obtained information; 
   said two selecting step respectively selects the cation releasing module and/or the anion releasing module according to the determined first type of the cation and/or the determined type of the anions.