Multi-meshes coupled cathodes enhanced performance of electrochemical water softening system

The high electrode area requirement limited the applications of electrochemical water softening technology, despite of conspicuous advantages. This work introduces an electrochemical water softening system with multi-meshes coupled cathodes to address fouling in industrial circulating cooling water systems. Experimental data indicate that the coupled cathode increases the descaling rate of electrochemical water softening system due to the produced self-synergy effect based on its unique multilayer structure. The synergistic effect is constructed by separating and positioning the chemical reactions (alkalinity production and scale deposition) to different regions of the coupled cathode, thus a large amount of OH− ions from the internal layers and the preferentially deposited scale on external layers accelerate the subsequent scale deposition in later stage of the process. This system displays the reduced electrode area requirement and energy consumption depending on the increased descaling rate. This work provides a facile strategy for the development and applications of electrochemical water softening technology.