ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS WITH POLYMERIC ELECTRODE AND METHODS OF PREPARATION AND USE

• US 20070256932A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Zolotarsky, Vadim, Martin, Barry L., Ivanter, Irina A., Antoniou, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/745,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/294
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/26 Chlorine; Compounds thereof by simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine C25B1/34
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/04 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/043 Carbon, e.g. diamond or graphene

Abstract

The invention provides low cost methods and apparatus that utilize at least one carbon-filled polymeric electrode to electrolytically generate desirable products.

Claims

1. An electrolytic apparatus comprising an electrolytic cell having at least one carbon-filled polymeric electrode.

2. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon-filled polymeric electrode comprises electrically conductive carbon disposed in a thermoplastic polymeric binder.

3. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the polymeric binder comprises polyethylene.

4. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a body encasing at least a portion of the electrolytic cell, at least a portion of the body comprising carbon disposed in a polymeric binder.

5. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the body serves as at least one electrode of the electrolytic cell.

6. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of an electrolyte comprising at least one of a halite and a halide.

7. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrolyte comprises a chlorite.

8. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrolyte comprises a chloride.

9. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrolyte further comprises at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of chlorates, perchlorates, hypohalites, permanganates, chromates, and peroxides.

10. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of electrical potential connected to the at least one carbon-filled polymeric electrode and providing less than about 3 volts to the electrolytic cell.

11. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a circuit constructed to regulate the electrical potential to the electrolytic cell to at least about 2 volts.

12. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one carbon-filled polymeric electrode serves as a cathode.

13. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon-filled polymeric electrode comprises at least one metallic core.

14. The electrolytic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon-filled polymeric electrode comprises an electrocatalytic coating disposed on at least a portion of a surface thereof.

15. A method comprising providing an electrolytic cell having at least one carbon-loaded polymeric electrode.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising establishing an electrical current through the at least one carbon-loaded polymeric electrode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the electrical current comprises providing current with a potential of less than about 3 volts.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein establishing the electrical current comprises providing current with a potential of at least about 2 volts.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the electrical current comprises connecting a terminal of an electrical source to a carbon-loaded polymeric cathode of the electrolytic cell.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the electrical current further comprises connecting a terminal of an electrical source to a carbon-loaded polymeric electrode having an electroactive coating disposed on at least a portion a surface thereof.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the electrical current comprises connecting an electrical source to a carbon-loaded polymeric electrode having a metallic core.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein establishing the electrical current comprises conducting current from an electrical source to a carbon-loaded polymeric electrode through an electrically conductive reticulated member contacting at least a portion of the carbon-loaded polymeric electrode.