TREATED POROUS ANODE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL FLUORINATION

• US 3,655,548 A
• Filed: 07/24/1970
• Issued: 04/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William V. Childs
• Original Assignee: William V. Childs
• Inventors: Childs, William V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, John H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fay, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US05/057,938
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 204/284,294,59,72,81 136/22,121 260/438.5C
• US Class Current: 204/284
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 3/28 Fluorination

Abstract

In an electrochemical fluorination process wherein the reaction takes place within the confines of a porous electrode element, the lower portion of this element is impregnated with a surfactant having a fluorocarbon radical having a terminal -CF3 group.

Claims

2. An electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lower portion comprises from 1/50 to 1/2 of said porous electrode element.

3. An electrode assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

said porous electrode element comprises porous carbon; and

said porous electrode element contains a feed distribution passageway within said impregnated portion thereof.

4. An electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said porous electrode element comprises porous carbon; and

said surfactant is CF3(CF2)6COCr3O3Cl2.

5. An electrode assembly according to claim 4 wherein said surfactant is present in the impregnated portion of said porous element in an amount within the range of 0.05 to 10 grams per cubic inch of the volume of the impregnated portion.

6. An electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said lower portion includes a first surface for introducing a reactant feedstock into the pores of said porous element;

a first conduit means is in communication with said first surface;

said upper portion includes a second surface, spaced apart from said first surface, for withdrawing reaction product from the pores of said porous element; and

a second conduit means is in communication with said second surface.

7. An electrode assembly according to claim 6 wherein:

said porous element comprises porous carbon and is generally rectangular in shape; and

said first surface comprises the wall of a first passageway formed in said lower portion.

8. An electrode assembly according to claim 7 wherein said second surface comprises the wall of a second passageway formed in said upper portion.

9. A method for producing the porous electrode element of claim 1, which method comprises:

impregnating said lower portion of said porous electrode element with a small but effective electrolyte invasion inhibiting amount of a surfactant represented by the formula CF3(CX2)n-Y, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, fluorine, bromine, and hydrogen, n is an integer from two to 20 inclusive, and Y is selected from the group consisting of -CONHR'"'"''"'"'NR2;

-COZ;

-R'"'"''"'"'OH;

-CONHR'"'"''"'"'NR2.HX'"'"''"'"';

-CONHR'"'"''"'"'N R2R'"'"''"'"'COO ;

-SO3M;

-SO2NHR;

-SO2NHR'"'"''"'"'COOH;

-SO2NHR'"'"''"'"'OH;

-SO3NH(C2H4)xA;

-SO2NHR'"'"''"'"'NR2;

-SO2NHR'"'"''"'"'NR3X'"'"''"'"';

-SO2NHR'"'"''"'"'N R2R'"'"''"'"'COO ; and

-SO2NHR'"'"''"'"'NR2.HX'"'"''"'"' wherein R is an alkyl group having from one to about 10 carbon atoms;

R'"'"''"'"' is a linear alkylene group having from one to about four carbon atoms;

X'"'"''"'"' is chlorine, bromine, or iodine;

Z is -OH, -OM, or a -OR group;

M is a Group IA metal; and

A is hydrogen or a -P(OH)2, or -SO3H radical.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein:

said porous electrode element comprises porous carbon; and

said surfactant is CF3(CF2)6COCr3O3Cl2.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said surfactant is deposited in said lower portion of said porous electrode element in an amount within the range of 0.05 to 10 grams per cubic inch of the portion of said electrode element being treated.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

sAid surfactant is in the form of a 20 to 40 weight percent solution in isopropanol;

said impregnation is carried out by contacting said lower portion of said porous element with said solution; and

after said contacting, said porous element is subjected to a temperature within the range of from about 70* to about 270* F. so as to dry said element.