CONVERSION MATERIALS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL WATER SOFTENING

摘要

A water softener includes a container configured to hold water, first and second electrodes in fluid communication with the water, and a power source. The first electrode contains a conversion material that has a first composition and a second composition that coexists with the first composition. The first composition contains calcium ions bound therein and the second composition contains sodium ions bound therein. The power source supplies power in a first operating condition so that the second composition exchanges sodium ions in the water for calcium ions to produce a soft water solution. The first and second electrodes are connected in a second operating state such that the first composition exchanges calcium ions in the water for sodium ions in order to produce a waste water solution. The conversion material is subjected to a reversible conversion reaction in order to convert between the first and the second composition within the stability window of the water.