Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Yinying Ren

Trevor Alan Hatton

Xianwen Mao

Gregory C Rutledge

Wenda Tian

An asymmetric system containing a first conductive polymer modified with a redox active moiety and a second conductive polymer modified with a surfactant is used for the separation of organic compounds from aqueous solutions. The asymmetric system has complementary hydrophobicity tunability in response to electrochemical modulations. For example, both materials are hydrophobic in their respective neutral states, therefore exhibiting affinity toward organic compounds. Application of a mild potential drives the desorption of the organic compounds and regeneration of the materials. The asymmetric system can be used in a cyclic fashion, through repeated electrical discharge or shorting of the two electrodes to program the capture of organics from a feed solution, and application of a potential to stimulate the release of the adsorbed organics.

Asymmetric electrochemical systems and methods

Aspects described herein relate generally to adsorbent systems and methods for capturing and/or separating organic species (e.g., uncharged organic species) from mixtures with water.

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Yinying Ren