Apparatus and method are disclosed for introducing ion exchange or other
particulates into compartments of an already-assembled
electrodeionization or comparable stack by modulating a flow of slurry
into the compartments with slugs of gas such as air. The air propels
liquid through the cells, scavenging ponded liquid so that the
particulates (which are retained, e.g., by a strainer or obstruction, in
compartment of the apparatus) are deposited as well-packed beds to fill
the compartments. Pressurized air filling protocols may deliver discrete
slugs of slurry between bursts of air, and the direction of filling may
be periodically reversed to diminish particle bed non-homogeneities or
settling gradients that arise during transport. The slugs of air may be
applied in the direction of slurry flow, in the reverse direction, or
both. Different slurries may be transported in a sequence to form layered
and packed beds of enhanced utility. An apparatus of the invention has
filled compartments of enhanced packing, and is ported or has its
passages arranged so that ion exchange material may be filled, or may be
replenished by a fluidized flow according to a method of this invention.