This study aims to evaluate the effect of selected variables on the indium ion desorption process using indium absorbent (VSB-5) and the FT-CDI (flow through continuous deionization) system. The number of bipolar membrane sheets, pH, voltage and relative flow rates are optimized as variables. The research findings show that desorption began at a pH of 3 and the desorption rate was dependent on the pH. More than 6.0 V was required to decrease the pH by water decomposition, and the current efficiency was highest at 6.5 V. The final desorption rate was higher when the flow rate of the desorption chamber was lower than the flow rate of the concentration chamber. The desorption efficiency of the electrical process was higher than that of the chemical process at the same pH. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.