Electronic control of pH and ionic strength
Apparatuses and methods for controlling ionic strength and/or pH of a solution are provided.
1. An apparatus for controlling pH and/or ionic strength in a vessel, the apparatus comprising,
a. a vessel in fluid communication with a first side chamber and a second side chamber, wherein the vessel does not comprise an electrode; and
b. an anion and proton injector comprising:
the first side chamber divided from the vessel by an anion selective membrane but not by a cation selective membrane, wherein the first side chamber comprises a first cathode; and
the second side chamber divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, wherein the second side chamber comprises a first anode;
wherein the first anode and first cathode form a circuit connected via a solution, when present, in the vessel and the first and second side chambers.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a reservoir.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is tubing or a channel.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tubing or channel forms a recycling loop.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tubing or channel draws from a reservoir and outputs to a device or container other than the reservoir.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of:
a conductivity gauge in fluid communication with the vessel;
a pH meter in fluid communication with the vessel;
an electronic controller for the electrodes;
a pump positioned to pump a solution through the vessel.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is in fluid communication with a chromatography column or other chromatography support, a mass spectrometer, capillary electrophoresis, or other analytical equipment.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a molecular weight cutoff membrane that prevents movement of macromolecules into the side chambers.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the vessel comprises a buffered solution.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the solution comprises one or more cell.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising
c. a cation and hydroxide ion injector comprising:
a third side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a cation selective membrane, the third side chamber comprising a second anode; and
a fourth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, the fourth side chamber comprising a second cathode,
wherein the second anode and the second cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, if present, in the vessel and the third and fourth side chambers.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , the apparatus further comprising;
d. an anion and cation extractor comprising:
the fifth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a cation selective membrane, the fifth side chamber comprising a third cathode; and
the sixth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by an anion selective membrane, the sixth side chamber comprising a third anode,
wherein the third anode and the third cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, when present, in the vessel and the fifth and second side chambers.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
i. a cation and hydroxide ion injector comprising:
a. the first side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a cation selective membrane, wherein the electrode of the first chamber is a first anode; and
b. the second side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, wherein the electrode of the second side chamber is a first cathode, wherein the second anode and the second cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, if present, in the vessel and the first and second side chambers.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
i. an anion and cation injector comprising:
a. the first side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by an anion selective membrane, wherein the electrode of the first side chamber is a first cathode; and
b. the second side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a cation selective membrane, wherein the electrode of the second side chamber is a first anode, wherein the first anode and the first cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, if present, in the vessel and the first and second side chambers.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , the apparatus further comprising;
iii. an anion and proton injector comprising:
a. a third side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by an anion selective membrane, the third side chamber comprising a second cathode; and
b. a fourth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, the fourth side chamber comprising a second anode, wherein the second anode and the second cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, if present, in the vessel and the third and fourth chambers; and
iv. a cation and hydroxide ion injector comprising:
a. a fifth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by an cation selective membrane, the fifth side chamber comprising a third anode; and
b. a sixth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, the sixth side chamber comprising a third cathode, wherein the third anode and the third cathode form a circuit connected via a solution in the vessel and the fifth and sixth side chambers.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , the apparatus further comprising
ii. a proton injector and cation extractor comprising:
a. a third side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by an cation selective membrane, the third side chamber comprising a second cathode; and
b. a fourth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, the fourth side chamber comprising a second anode, wherein the second anode and the second cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, if present, in the vessel and the third and fourth side chambers; and
iii. a hydroxide ion injector and anion extractor comprising:
a. a fifth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by an anion selective membrane, the fifth side chamber comprising a third anode; and
b. a sixth side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, the sixth side chamber comprising a third cathode, wherein the third anode and the third cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, if present, in the vessel and the fifth and sixth side chambers.
17. The apparatus of any of claims 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
i. a proton injector and cation extractor comprising:
a. the first side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by an cation selective membrane, wherein the electrode of the first side chamber is a first cathode; and
b. a second side chamber in fluid communication with the vessel and divided from the vessel by a bipolar membrane, wherein the electrode of the second side chamber is a first anode, wherein the first anode and the first cathode are capable of forming a circuit connected via a solution, when present, in the vessel and the first and second side chambers.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus does not comprise a vacuum or other device for removal of excess gas.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a mixing system.