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Dr.
Davis’ research interests are in separation processes including
extractions with supercritical carbon dioxide adsorption, and
ion-exchange membranes (dialysis, electrodialysis, and
electro-deionization) and in the production and storage of hydrogen.
Electrodialysis utilizes membranes that are selectively permeable to
positively or negatively charged ions such as Na+ and Cl-.
When salty solutions flow through an array of these membranes in an
electric field, salt can be recovered from the solutions and
concentrated to high levels. The salt can also be split to form an
acid HCl and a base NaOH. The process is useful for recovery of salts
or acids from wastewater streams and returning them to the chemical
process. Dr Davis’ laboratory has a mobile, skid-mounted
electrodialysis system that can be used for treatability and process
design studies in our laboratory or at a plant site. A recent
application is for
total utilization of
seawater to produce freshwater and industrial chemicals – NaCl, Mg
compounds, Bromine, etc. Electrodialysis with special membranes
recovers NaCl from reverse osmosis reject brine
and facilitates recovery of Bromine and Mg.
Selected Publications
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A First Course in Ion Permeable Membranes,
T. A. Davis, J. D. Genders and D. Pletcher, The Electrochemical
Consultancy, 1997.
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"Electrodialysis", T. A. Davis and D. A.
Glassner, Handbook of Downstream Processing, E.
Goldberg (ed.), Chapman & Hall, 1997.
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“Diffusion
Dialysis”, T. A. Davis, Encyclopedia of Separation Science,
Ian D. Wilson (ed), Academic Press, 2000.
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"Electromembrane Processes”, T. A. Davis, V. Grebenyuk, and O.
Grebenyuk, Membrane Technology in the Chemical Industry,
S. P. Nunes and K.-V. Peinemann (ed.), Wiley-VCH, 2001.
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"Supercritical Fluid Extraction of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene from DOE
Job-Control Waste”, J. Li, T. A. Davis and M. A. Matthews,
Separation Science and Technology 38(12 & 13), 2979-2993 ,
2003.
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