There is a need for improved mechanisms for energy storage that when combined with renewable sources will enable a reduction in the need for more carbon-intensive forms of electricity generation. Replacing unwanted minerals in water is the focus of any anion exchange water treatment. Typically operating as “either point-of-entry or point-of-use” devices, they typically work on a per household or per building status. Ion exchanges will replace or swap out unwanted materials, and then as water passes through an anion exchange water treatment device, it captures anions like nitrate, sulfate or even arsenic. Typically releasing chloride into the water at the end process, and most are housed in tanks made of fiberglass or plastic lined steel, with synthetic or resin catalysts.
A company out of Boca Raton, Florida, Dioxide Materials, also offers anion exchange water electrolysistreatment components for industrial or commercial use, including their patented Sustainion® Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane with PTFE support. It is easily handled and stronger than other options and crafted to be used with a supporting electrolyte. Designed to be used with their premium anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers or CO2 electrolyzers, they provide a wide range of industries with the means of converting CO2 supplies into viable feed stocks such as renewable petrol when combined with hydrogen and renewable energy.
Essentially, this means that they are simply able to take less than ideal water stocks in addition to captured CO2 and renewable energy to convert into cleaner fuels.
Electrolyzers are the key to a greener future as they are essential to the process of converting CO2 into marketable materials. The electrolyzers made by Dioxide Materials cut out the need for costly precious metals and ionized water supplies, and have such superior conductivities that they outperform most of their competition. Their most recent developments have enable them to run the recycling process with an overpotential (extra voltage needed to split water, lowering the cell’s efficiency) of only .17 volts. They also designed their patented membranes to be resistant to corrosion while also skipping the needs for expensive precious metal electrodes.
Yet, it is important to remember that the systems are also able to support smaller carbon footprints through the use of “junk” or waste materials such as industrial water supplies, CO2 and renewable energy that might have otherwise been curtailed.
The use of an anion exchange membrane from Dioxide Materials is a step in the right direction. With their high performance, Sustainion® membranes with conductivities above 100 mS/cm under alkaline conditions at 60 °C, stability for thousands of hours in 1M KOH, and physical mechanical stability that is useful for many different applications, they will be a key player in a greener future.