Electrolytic cell and electrode therefor

Details Electrolytic cell and electrode therefor Electrolytic cell and electrode therefor

1995-05-16

1997-01-14

Bell, Bruce F.

Chemistry: electrical and wave energy

Apparatus

Electrolytic

204280, 204284, 204290R, 205526, 205532, C25B 900

Patent

active

055935532

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electrolytic cell and to an electrode therefor and, in particular, to an electrolytic cell which is provided with liquor recirculating means.
Electrolytes, for example, aqueous solutions of alkali metal chlorides, particularly sodium chloride, are electrolyzed on a vast scale throughout the world in order to produce products such as chlorine and aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution. The electrolysis may be effected in an electrolytic cell comprising a plurality of anodes and cathodes with each anode being separated from the adjacent cathode by a separator which divides the electrolytic cell into a plurality of anode and cathode compartments.
The electrolytic cell, may be of the diaphragm or membrane type. In the diaphragm type cell, separators positioned between adjacent anodes and cathodes are microporous and in use aqueous electrolyte passes through the diaphragms from the anode compartments to the cathode compartments of the cell. In the membrane type cell, the separators are essentially hydraulically impermeable, and in use, ionic species are transported across the membranes between the anode compartments and the cathode compartments of the cell.
For example, where aqueous alkali metal chloride solution is electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell of the diaphragm type the solution is charged to the anode compartments of the cell, chlorine which is produced during the electrolysis is removed from the anode compartments of the cell; the alkali metal chloride solution passes through the diaphragms, and hydrogen and alkali metal hydroxide produced by electrolysis are removed from the cathode compartments, the alkali metal hydroxide being removed in the form of an aqueous solution of alkali metal chloride and alkali metal hydroxide. Where an aqueous alkali metal chloride solution is electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell of the membrane type, the solution is charged to the anode compartments of the cell and chlorine produced during the electrolysis and depleted alkali metal chloride solution are removed from the anode compartments; alkali metal ions are transported across the membranes to the cathode compartments of the cell to which water or dilute alkali metal hydroxide solution may be charged; and hydrogen and alkali metal hydroxide solution produced by reaction of alkali metal ions with water are removed from the cathode compartments of the cell.
The electrolysis may be effected in an electrolytic cell of the filter press type which may comprise a large number of alternating anodes and cathodes, for example, fifty anodes alternating with fifty cathodes, although the cell may comprise even more anodes and cathodes, for example up to one hundred and fifty alternating anodes and cathodes.
The electrolytic cell may be provided with an inlet header through which electrolyte, for example aqueous alkali metal chloride solution, may be charged to the anode compartment of the cell, and with an outlet header through which products of electrolysis may be removed therefrom. Also, the electrolytic cell may be provided with an outlet header through which products of electrolysis may be removed from the cathode compartments of the cell, and optionally, e.g. in the case of a membrane type cell, with an inlet header through which liquor, for example water or other fluid, may be charged thereto.
Electrolytic cells may be fitted with means for recirculating the liquors to the anode and/or cathode compartments of the cell. For example, in an electrolytic cell of the membrane type in which aqueous alkali metal chloride solution is electrolyzed and in which the solution is charged to the anode compartments of the cell through an inlet header and chlorine and depleted aqueous alkali metal chloride solution are removed therefrom through an outlet header, the electrolytic cell may be equipped with means for removing depleted aqueous alkali metal chloride solution from the anode compartments and recirculating the depleted solution, or a part thereof, back to the anode compar

REFERENCES:
patent: 4108742 (1978-08-01), Seko et al.
patent: 4138295 (1979-02-01), deNora et al.
patent: 4592822 (1986-06-01), deNora
patent: 5013418 (1991-05-01), Wullenweber et al.
patent: 5130008 (1992-07-01), Cabaraux et al.

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