Apparatus and process for electrolysis using a cation-permselective membrane and turbulence inducing means
First Claim
1. An electrode and cation-permselective membrane combination capable of providing high current efficiency in an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode and an anode and catholyte and anolyte compartments divided by said permselective membrane wherein said cathode is a gas-directing expanded metal cathode having an open mesh network of interconnected webs, a portion of said webs being positioned at an angle to the plane of said cathode and adapted to induce turbulence in the catholyte of said electrolytic cell by directing gases evolved on said cathode toward or away from the surface of said permselective membrane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
High current efficiency can be obtained in an electrolytic cell by inducing turbulence in the catholyte preferably by utilizing a gas-directing cathode and cation-permselective membrane combination. There is disclosed a process for electrolysis, particularly, the electrolysis of an alkali metal chloride such as sodium chloride to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide. Said cell has a cathode and an anode divided into catholyte and anolyte compartments by a cation-permselective membrane. Turbulence inducing means such as a gas-directing cathode provides turbulence in said catholyte at the surface of said membrane by directing gas evolving on said cathode toward or away from said membrane. Multicell arrangements are also disclosed wherein said cells are connected in series.
69 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. An electrode and cation-permselective membrane combination capable of providing high current efficiency in an electrolytic cell comprising a cathode and an anode and catholyte and anolyte compartments divided by said permselective membrane wherein said cathode is a gas-directing expanded metal cathode having an open mesh network of interconnected webs, a portion of said webs being positioned at an angle to the plane of said cathode and adapted to induce turbulence in the catholyte of said electrolytic cell by directing gases evolved on said cathode toward or away from the surface of said permselective membrane.
-
6. A vertical cation-permselective membrane electrolytic cell of high current efficiency comprising
(a) an anode and a cathode, (b) an anolyte and a catholyte compartment separated by an electrolytically conductive, hydraulically impervious cation-permselective membrane wherein said cathode is a gas-directing, expanded metal cathode sheet having an open mesh network of interconnected webs with a portion of said webs being positioned at an angle to the plane of said cathode sheet and adapted to induce turbulence in the catholyte of said cell by directing gases evolving thereon toward or away from the surface of said cation-permselective membrane.
- 11. In a process for electrolysis of an alkali metal chloride in a vertical electrode electrolytic cell having as electrodes an anode and a cathode and anolyte and catholyte compartments separated by an electrolytically-conductive, hydraulically-impervious cation-permselective membrane wherein said anode is a flattened expanded metal, the improvement comprising inducing turbulence by providing as the cathode of said cell, a gas-directing, expanded metal electrode having an open mesh network of interconnected webs, a portion of said webs being positioned at an angle to the plane of said sheet and adapted to induce turbulence in the catholyte of said electrolytic cell by directing gases evolving thereon toward or away from the surface of said cation-permselective membrane resulting in an increase in the current efficiency of said cell.
Specification