GB362579A - Process and apparatus for carrying out electrolyte processes, more particularly those with decomposable end products, such as for instance the manufacture of persulphuric acid or of its salts by electrolysis - Google Patents

Abstract

362,579. Electrolysis. OESTERREICHISCHE CHEMISCHE WERKE GES., 5, Technikerstrasse, Vienna. Oct. 4, 1930, No. 29733. Convention date, Feb. 20. [Class 41.] In a two - compartment cell for the manufacture of persulphuric acid and its salts and like easily decomposable products by an anodic oxidation process, the anolyte passes through the cell at high speed in a thin layer, while the catholyte on the opposite side of the diaphragm passes slowly through the cell as a cooled column. In the apparatus shown the anolvte enters the anode chamber at the bottom of a glass tube 6 around which is mounted a closed glass vessel 5 which nearly fills the anode chamber. The anolyte then flows upwards in a thin stream between the vessel 5 and the diaphragm vessel 3 which it leaves at 4. The vessel 5 is supported on a plate 21 having a central opening and a radial slot to allow egress of the anolyte from the tube 6. The catholyte moves slowly through the outer chamber which is cooled by a lead pipe 14 which constitutes the cathode. The cooling fluid on leaving the pipe 14 is led by a tube 20 to cool the vessel 5, which it leaves by an overflow, not shown. The anode may consist of thin strips of platinum reinforced by strips of tantulum secured to a lead ring 9 ; the ring is provided with an ebonite covering which may extend partly over the strips. The diaphragm may be of unglazed porcelain, clay, gurocel, fabric or an artificial resin. The container may be of lead or a lead alloy or may be composed of or impregnated with a natural or artificial resin. Several cells may be connected in cascade, the anolyte and catholyte passing in succession through their various compartments ; a number of such series may be connected in parallel. In a modification several anode compartments are mounted in a single cell and surrounded by a common coil-shaped cathode; several of such cells may be arranged with all the anodes connected to the common cathode of the preceding cell, the anolyte flowing from each compartment to the corresponding compartment of the next cell, and the catholyte from each outer compartment to that of the next cell. Liquid containing persulphuric acid or its salts obtained by this method may be treated by hydrolytic decomposition for the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide, after removal of which it is passed through the cathode chambers before return to the anode chambers. Detailed examples of dimensions and current densities are given.