Electrochemical mercerization, souring, and bleaching of textiles
First Claim
1. A method for mercerizing textile materials, using an electrochemical cell, comprising:
- producing a base for mercerization by reducing oxygen at a gas diffusion cathode in a cathodic chamber filled with an electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell;
producing an acid for neutralization by oxidizing water at an anode in an anodic chamber filled with a second electrolyte solution in the cell;
maintaining separation of the electrolyte solutions in the anodic and cathodic chambers; and
moving a textile material through the cathodic chamber where the material is in contact with the base and then through the anodic chamber where the material is in contact with the acid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Economical, pollution-free treatment of textiles occurs in a low voltage electrochemical cell that mercerizes (or scours), sours, and optionally bleaches without effluents and without the purchase of bulk caustic, neutralizing acids, or bleaches. The cell produces base in the cathodic chamber for mercerization and an equivalent amount of acid in the anodic chamber for neutralizing the fabric. Gas diffusion electrodes are used for one or both electrodes and may simultaneously generate hydrogen peroxide for bleaching. The preferred configuration is a stack of bipolar electrodes, in which one or both of the anode and cathode are gas diffusion electrodes, and where no hydrogen gas is evolved at the cathode.
8 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for mercerizing textile materials, using an electrochemical cell, comprising:
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producing a base for mercerization by reducing oxygen at a gas diffusion cathode in a cathodic chamber filled with an electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell; producing an acid for neutralization by oxidizing water at an anode in an anodic chamber filled with a second electrolyte solution in the cell; maintaining separation of the electrolyte solutions in the anodic and cathodic chambers; and moving a textile material through the cathodic chamber where the material is in contact with the base and then through the anodic chamber where the material is in contact with the acid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrochemical cell for mercerizing textile materials, comprising:
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a cathode, wherein oxygen is reduced at the cathode to form a base for mercerizing a textile material; an anode, wherein water is oxidized at the anode to form an acid for neutralizing the material; wherein at least one of the cathode and anode is a gas diffusion electrode; a separator situated between the anode and cathode, defining a cathodic chamber bounded by the cathode on one side and the separator on another side, and an anodic chamber bounded by the anode on one side and the separator on another side; and means for moving the textile material through the cathodic chamber and through the anodic chamber. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification