Resumen en español

Insufficient access to potable water is becoming one of the major threats to sustainable development around the globe. The implementation of water conservation policies and the use of mature and novel desalination technologies are key to address the water demand for an increasing population. Desalination systems based on electrochemical cells are of current interest. This paper discusses an electrochemical cell based on carbon electrodes modified with polypyrrole and a polypyrrole/polystyrene sulfonate composite which have anion and cation exchange properties, respectively. The cell was used to substantially decrease the concentration of sodium chloride solution in the 10-1 and the 10-2 M concentration range. The long term stability of this cell is also discussed.