Hydrogen-assisted electrolysis processes
First Claim
1. A process for reducing in an electrolytic cell an ionic alkali metal compound, said cell containing anode and cathode compartments, comprising supplying said alkali metal compound in molten form to at least the cathodic compartment in the electrolytic cell, at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water, said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane which is permeable to alkali metal ions but is not permeable to water and water vapor, applying an electric voltage to said cell to reduce said alkali metal compound at said cathode, and passing hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas in the anode compartment while said compound is reduced at the cathode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and electrolytic cell for reducing in an ionic alkali metal compound, the cell containing anode and cathode electrodes, by supplying an electrolyte containing the alkali metal compound to the cell, applying an electric voltage to the cell to reduce said alkali metal compound at the cathode, and passing hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas to at least one electrode while the compound is reduced at the cathode.
74 Citations
42 Claims
- 1. A process for reducing in an electrolytic cell an ionic alkali metal compound, said cell containing anode and cathode compartments, comprising supplying said alkali metal compound in molten form to at least the cathodic compartment in the electrolytic cell, at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water, said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane which is permeable to alkali metal ions but is not permeable to water and water vapor, applying an electric voltage to said cell to reduce said alkali metal compound at said cathode, and passing hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas in the anode compartment while said compound is reduced at the cathode.
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7. An electrolytic cell for reducing an ionic alkali metal compound said cell comprising:
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a) an anode and a cathode compartment, b) the anode compartment containing an anode electrode and the cathode compartment containing a cathode electrode with connectors of the said anode and cathode electrodes to electrical source, c) at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water, d) both of said compartments being separated by a membrane which is permeable to alkali metal ions but is not permeable to water and water vapor, e) said cathodic compartment containing as an electrolyte said molten alkali metal compound, and f) means for supplying hydrogen or hydrogen containing gas from an external source to said electrolytic cell at said anode compartment - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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- 10. A process for electrolyzing an alkali metal borate in an electrolytic cell having anodic and cathodic compartments to produce an alkali metal borohydride comprising providing a molten alkali metal borate salt in said cathodic compartment and molten alkali metal hydroxide in said anodic compartment, at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water and said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane permeable to alkali metal ions but non-permeable to water and water vapor, applying a voltage in the said electrolytic cell, and supplying hydrogen or hydrogen containing gas to both said anodic and cathodic compartments while said electrolytic voltage is being applied to form said borohydride in said cathodic compartment.
- 14. An electrolytic cell having an anodic and a cathodic compartment, said cathodic compartment containing an alkali metal borate and said anodic compartment containing an alkali metal hydroxide both said alkali metal hydroxide and said alkali metal borate being in their molten state and being substantially free of water, both said anodic and cathodic compartments containing a means for supplying hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas from an external source into each of these respective compartments, and both of said compartments being separated by a membrane, which is permeable to alkali metal ions but non-permeable to water and water vapor.
- 18. A process for electrolyzing alkali metal hydroxide in an electrolytic cell containing anodic and cathodic compartments to produce an alkali metal comprising providing molten alkali metal hydroxide to both the cathodic and anodic compartments in the electrolytic cell, at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water, said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane which is permeable to alkali metal ions but is not permeable to water and water vapor, applying a voltage to the cell, and supplying hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas to said anodic compartment while said electric voltage is applied to form the metallic alkali metal in said cathodic compartment.
- 22. An electrolytic cell for producing an alkali metal, comprising anodic and cathodic compartments, said compartments containing molten alkali metal hydroxide, at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water, said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane which is permeable to alkali metal ions, and impermeable to water or water vapor, said anodic compartment containing a means for passing hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas from an external source into said anodic compartment.
- 25. A process for electrolytically producing alkali metal amalgam in an electrolytic cell from aqueous alkali metal hydroxide, said cell having cathode and anode electrodes, comprising providing to said cell an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution which contacts said cathode and anode electrodes, providing an electric voltage and passing hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas onto the surface of the anode in said cell, so as to form alkali metal at said cathode which reacts with said cathode to form said alkali metal containing amalgam.
- 27. An electrolytic cell for producing alkali metal amalgam comprising an anode and a cathode, containing aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution, which solution contacts both the cathode and anode electrodes, said cathode electrode being formed from a material which is either a metal or metal alloy capable of forming an amalgam with an alkali metal, and a means for supplied hydrogen or hydrogen containing gas from an external source to the surface of the anode.
- 30. A process for electrolyzing alkali metal hydroxide in an electrolytic cell containing anodic and cathodic compartments to produce alkali metal hydride comprising providing molten alkali metal hydroxide to both the cathodic and anodic compartments in the electrolytic cell, at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water, said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane which is permeable to alkali metal ions but is not permeable to water and water vapor, applying a voltage to the cell, and supplying hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas to said anodic compartment while said electric voltage is applied to form metallic alkali metal hydride in said cathodic compartment.
- 34. An electrolytic cell for producing alkali metal hydride comprising anodic and cathodic compartments, said compartments containing molten alkali metal hydroxide, said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water, said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane which is permeable to alkali metal ions but is impermeable water or water vapor, and a means for passing hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas from an external source into said anodic compartment.
- 36. A process for electrolyzing an alkali metal hydroxide in an electrolytic cell having anodic and cathodic compartments to produce an alkali metal hydride comprising providing a molten alkali metal hydroxide in said cathodic compartment and in said anodic compartment, at least said cathodic compartment being substantially free of water and, said anodic and cathodic compartments being separated by a membrane permeable to alkali metal ions but non-permeable to water and water vapor, applying a voltage in the said electrolytic cell, and supplying hydrogen or hydrogen containing gas to both said anodic and cathodic compartments while said electrolytic voltage is being applied to form said hydride in said cathodic compartment.
- 39. An electrolytic cell having an anodic and a cathodic compartment, said cathodic compartment containing an alkali metal hydroxide and said anodic compartment containing an alkali metal hydroxide, said alkali metal hydroxide being in its molten state and being substantially free of water, both said anodic and cathodic compartments containing a means for supplying hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas from an external source into each of these respective compartments, and both of said compartments being separated by a membrane, which is permeable to alkali metal ions and non-permeable to water and water vapor.
Specification