Devices and methods for removing dissolved ions from water using composite resin electrodes

1. A system for removing dissolved ions from water, comprising: (a) a first electrode in contact with a first plurality of ion exchange resin (IER) particles, (b) a second electrode in contact with a second plurality of IER particles, (c) an voltage source, (d) a chamber defined by the first electrode and the second electrode, (e) an inlet, (f) a first outlet, and (g) optionally a second outlet, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electricity source are in electrical communication with each other, and the chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet, the first outlet, and optionally the second outlet, and optionally the voltage source is configured so that the direction of a current to the first electrode and the second electrode can be switched, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are the same, and the system comprises a means to divert the flow from the first outlet to more than one direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least part or all of the IER particles of the first and/or second pluralities of IER particles are particles produced by the ball milling of IER beads.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least part of all of the IER particles of the first and/or second pluralities of IER particles comprise a surface that is conducting.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is the cathode, and at least part or all of the IER particles of the first plurality of IER particles are cation exchange resin (CER).

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is the anode, and at least part or all of the IER particles of the second plurality of IER particles are anion exchange resin (AER).

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and/or second electrode comprise wire meshes, wherein the IER particles are embedded on the surface of the wire meshes.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises at least one of: a means for sealing the inlet, a means for sealing the first outlet, and a means for sealing the second outlet.

8. A method for removing dissolved ions from ion-containing water comprising: (a) providing the system of claim 1 ; (b) flowing ion-containing water into the chamber via the inlet, (c) optionally running a direct current through the water via the first electrode and second electrode, (d) continuously flowing ion-containing water from the inlet into the chamber and out of the first outlet, wherein, in the chamber, one or more cations in the ion-containing water to associate to a IER particle of the first plurality of IER particles and one or more anions in the ion-containing water to associate to a IER particle of the second plurality of IER particles, such that deionized water flows out of the chamber via the first outlet, (e) stopping the flow of the ion-containing water of step (d), (f) running a direct current through the water in a direction reverse to the direct current of step (c) such that the cations dissociate from the IER particle of the first plurality of IER particles and the anions dissociate from the IER particle of the second plurality of IER particles to form waste water in the chamber, (g) flowing the waste water out of the chamber via the second outlet, and (h) optionally repeating steps (d) to (g).

9. A system for removing dissolved ions from water, comprising: (a) an inlet, (b) a first electrode in contact with a first plurality of ion exchange resin (IER) particles, (c) an insulating separator, (d) a second electrode in contact with a second plurality of IER particles, (e) an outlet, and (f) an voltage source, wherein (i) the insulating separator separates the first electrode and the second electrode, (ii) the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electricity source are in electrical communication with each other, and (iii) there is fluid communication in the following order: the inlet, the first electrode, the insulating separator, the second electrode, and the outlet, and optionally the voltage source is configured so that the direction of a current to the first electrode and the second electrode can be switched.

10. A method for removing dissolved ions from ion-containing water comprising: (a) providing the system or apparatus for removing dissolved ions from ion-containing water of the present invention; (b) flowing ion-water containing water into the system via the inlet, such that cations in the ion-water containing water associate with the CER, anions in the ion-water containing water associate with the AER, and water flowing out of the outlet has fewer ions than the ion-containing water flowing into the inlet, (c) regenerating the CER and AER comprising (i) flowing water containing fewer ions into the system via the inlet, (ii) closing the cutlet, and (iii) applying a voltage to the CER and AER, such that the cations disassociate from the CER and the anions disassociate from the AER, (d) opening the outlet to let the water containing the disassociated cation and anions in the system flow out, and (e) optionally repeating steps (b) to (e).

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the water containing fewer ions of step (c) (i) is water obtained from step (b).