Inventors:
Marc D. Andelman - Framingham MA
International Classification:
B 0D 1508
Abstract:
A controlled charge chromatography column for the purification of a fluid containing materials, which column comprises a chromatographic column having an inlet for the introduction of a fluid to be purified and an outlet for the discharge of the purified fluid, and one or more concentrated materials and a flow-through capacitor disposed within the column between the inlet and the outlet, the flow-through capacitor means comprising a plurality of spirally wound, spaced apart layers to include a first electrically conductive backing layer, such as of graphite, and a first high surface area conductive layer secured to the backing layer, such as composed of porous carbon fibers and a non-conductive, porous spacer layer to electrically insulate the backing and conductive layer and to permit the flow of material therethrough, the flow-through capacitor to be connected to a DC power source to charge the respective conductive layers with different polarities whereby a fluid containing material through the column is purified by the electrically conductive stationary phase and the retention thereof onto the high surface area layer and permitting for example the purification of solutions of liquids, such as salt, and providing for the recovery of a purified liquid.