US1585716A - Preparation of sodium - Google Patents

Preparation of sodium Download PDF

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Publication number
US1585716A
US1585716A US676887A US67688723A US1585716A US 1585716 A US1585716 A US 1585716A US 676887 A US676887 A US 676887A US 67688723 A US67688723 A US 67688723A US 1585716 A US1585716 A US 1585716A
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Prior art keywords
cathode
sodium
anode
current
bath
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US676887A
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Hulin Paul Leon
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
    • C25C3/02—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of alkali or alkaline earth metals

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in electrolytic processes for the preparation of sodium in which this metal is formed in the liquid condition on a cathode made of solid metal from which it becomes detached under the form of molten globules.
  • the invention may also be applied to the electrolysis of any sodium compounds in molten condition such as the carbonate, chloride, etc., whether they are separately treated or mixed together or whether other suitable materials are added to the same.
  • the heating produced by the Joule efi'ect is sufliciently regular and adjustable. It is easy to devise the apparatus in such a manner that it suitably dissipates any excess of heat.
  • the process and devices forming the subject-matter of my present.- invention are adapted to remedy all these drawbacks.
  • I may, without removing the cathode, reestablish the formation of sodium in the form of an adherent layer or of globules sufficiently .massive for resisting the action of the bath tending to detach the sodium from the cathode. I thus obtain an output in sodium higher than by any of the previous processes, as wellas a reduction in the consumption of soda.
  • the new process consists, substantially, in periodically operating a superficial oxidation of the cathode by causing such cath ode to act as an'anode during a limited time, using for this purpose a very reduced amount of electricity relatively to the amount employed for the electrolysis.
  • This process can be carried out by means of three main methodsof operation.
  • trodes and one or more auxiliary electrodes trodes and one or more auxiliary electrodes.
  • the two first methods of operation' can be this branching.
  • the third method of operation is carried out by momentarily connecting the cathode with the anode and by causing these two electrodes thus electrically connected. to act as a single anode, or as twin anodes, rela-' tively to another suitable electrode functioning, at that moment, as a cathode common to such anodes.
  • This cathode which performs its special function intermittently, will be designated hereafter under the name of auxiliary cathode.
  • this cathode and this anode are caused to resume their independence and their normal function.
  • the invention will improve the operation and efficiency of all the types of apparatus producing sodium by electrolysis.
  • the apparatus is furnished with a system of connections and movable contacts, specially combined, by the operation of which the electrodes are 'periodically connected according to the principle which has just been described.
  • Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are vertical sections through an electrolytic cell for carrying out my present invention
  • the standard Castner apparatus Figs. 7 and 9, comprises moreover a wire gauze diaphragm F interposed between the electrodes for separating the oxygen from the sodium and hydrogen'which ascend close around the cathode.
  • Figs. 10 and 1.1 illustrate another apparatus having an immersed cathode provided with such a diaphragm or separator F suspended from the collecting ring D.
  • each of these apparatuses 1s associated a combination of fixed contact pieces 5, 0, Z, c and of movable contacts h, j, is, the whole forming a switching system of peculiar novel operation.
  • contact pieces and contacts may moreover be arranged in a manner other than that shown and they can be spaced apart instead of being arranged in groups.
  • the contacts can be constituted by bars, blades, pins, handles, etc, and use can be made of all the necessary operating accessories which may, if desired, be independent of each other, common to or rigid with each other and even automatic.
  • the auxiliary cathode is composed of a metallic member immersed in the electrolyte as would be a working electrode.
  • auxiliary cathode is shown at E in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
  • This auxiliary cathode is constituted, here, by a sheet iron ring provided with a current supply conductor i which is connected at its outer end to a terminal or contact piece 6 by which the current is supplied or is interrupted at will.
  • the working current is supplied. to the anode 13 directly through a conductor a,
  • a branch circuit for this working current is established at f and leads to the contact piece I).
  • the movable contact h is then removed and b is connected to c by means of the contact 70, position illustrated in Figs. 3, 6 and 9; the work cathode C is then connected with the anode B by 57,0, 6,
  • the apparatus comprises therefore at this moment two.
  • twin anodes emitting together the main current in the mass of the bath towards the auxiliary cathode.
  • the cathodic-anodic substitution connection allows to obtain on the spot, inthe most practical manner, the superficial oxidation of the working cathode giving the high output which results from this oxidation.
  • the duration of the oxidizing connection varies with the arrangement of the apparatus, the relative position of the electrodes in action and their dimensions, the intensities ofcurrent which pass through them, the condition of the electrolyte, etc.
  • One minute will usually be' suhicient for each oxidizing operation with an average of sir: sodium producing operations in twenty-four hours; but it is preferable, in each plant todetermine and to regulate at the beginning, by trials, the duration and frequency whicharc suitable for given apparatuses and electrolytes.
  • Theoxidat-ion of the cathode is caused to cease and the apparatus to restart its normal operation, by eiiecting in reverse direction the switching movements described above.
  • the contact bar 76 is first removed and the bar h is replaced on the contact pieces 0 and Z, so as to thus pass again through the transitory position of Fig. 2.
  • the contact piece j is subsequently removed, 'thus restoring the apparatus, to the position shown in Fig. 1.
  • the vat A (Figs, 4 and G) is preferably used as auxiliary cathode, this usually rendering unnecessary the special electrode I For that purpose.
  • the vat A (Figs. 4,? and 10) is connected to the terminal or contact piece by a conductor 2' of suihcient cross section, and the most simple and most suitable auxiliary cathode is thus obtainec.
  • This modification is applicable to most of the apparatus in use in the industry.
  • the switching operation is ctiected as previously described.
  • tense as auxiliary cathode, separately, or preferably combined with the vat, other members such as the sodium Fig. 4 are changed to lid . passes from C to F and from C to D and tori.
  • a contact piece such as m and a conductor a forming a fixed or variable resistance, connected to the header or receiver D and, by the latter to the wire gauze diaphragm F, which is suspended therefrom.
  • the vat A is connected, as already explained, to the contact piece Z by the movable contact j inserted between the contact pieces e, Z (Figs.8 and 11) the con-'- ductor n is connected to e and A by means of a suitable contact such as 0 or any other equivalent contact inserted between m and c (Fig. or m and Z (Fig. 12), after which the blade h is removed and the contact 6 is placed in position.
  • a suitable contact such as 0 or any other equivalent contact inserted between m and c (Fig. or m and Z (Fig. 12)
  • the current then takes several paths through the bath.
  • the main portion passes from B to E; a fraction passes from B to F and to D.
  • the small fraction of the current which effects the cathodic oxidation and is controlled at will by the resistance a,
  • auxiliary cathode is carried out in a still simpler manner when the apparatus comprises a system of multiple electrodes opera-ting parallel in group in the same vat.
  • auxiliary cathode of one of the other cathodes in action or a group of other cathodes, which will thus work with overload during this time.
  • the anode is composed of several assembled parallel elements B--B-B-B, which meagre receive through a the current of the main circuit.
  • the cathodes C (3 C In the position shown in Fig. 13, which is that of normal working, these cathodesare connected by the contact pieces 0, movable contacts h and contact pieces Z, to the conductor d.
  • the cathodes C for instance (first of the group), the movable contact it is placed in the position b, Fig. 14, this establishing a connection of this cathode with the conductor a.
  • the cathode G then acts as anodeat the same time as the anodes B, thus constituting a partial element of the anodic electrode, and it is these latter anodes B which givepassage to the main mass of the current, all according to the principle of the invention.
  • the other cathodes C and C operate together as auxiliary cathode by receiving all the current.
  • the other cathodes are successively treated in the same manner.
  • Claims- I In the production of sodium by the electrolysis of a bath of molten caustic soda with the use of a copper cathode and a slightly oxidizable anode, the step which consists in effecting periodically, with the electrolytic bath itself, a superficial oxidation of the cathode.
  • the step which consists in periodically causing the cathode to act as anode, during a limited time under a suitably directed portion of the electrolyzing current, the other portion of this current being deflected and passing outside the cathode treated.
  • the step which consists in periodically connecting the anode with the main cathode through a resistance, the cathode thus becoming temporarily an anode when the auxiliary cathode is connected with the negative pole of the source of electricity.
  • the step which consists in periodically connecting the anode with the main cathode so that the latter temporarily assumes anodicfunctions while atthe same time connecting the auxiliary cathode with the negative 'pole'of the source'of electricity.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
US676887A 1922-12-16 1923-11-26 Preparation of sodium Expired - Lifetime US1585716A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR108754X 1922-12-16

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CH (1) CH108754A (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2419832A (en) * 1942-03-14 1947-04-29 Mathieson Alkali Works Inc Electrolytic cells
US2773826A (en) * 1944-02-07 1956-12-11 Norman C Beese Electrolytic apparatus for the recovery of rare refractory metals
US4088550A (en) * 1977-05-25 1978-05-09 Diamond Shamrock Corporation Periodic removal of cathodic deposits by intermittent reversal of the polarity of the cathodes
US4459187A (en) * 1979-05-29 1984-07-10 Snamprogetti, S.P.A. Process for storing and producing power by storage of alkali metals produced electrolytically

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2419832A (en) * 1942-03-14 1947-04-29 Mathieson Alkali Works Inc Electrolytic cells
US2773826A (en) * 1944-02-07 1956-12-11 Norman C Beese Electrolytic apparatus for the recovery of rare refractory metals
US4088550A (en) * 1977-05-25 1978-05-09 Diamond Shamrock Corporation Periodic removal of cathodic deposits by intermittent reversal of the polarity of the cathodes
US4459187A (en) * 1979-05-29 1984-07-10 Snamprogetti, S.P.A. Process for storing and producing power by storage of alkali metals produced electrolytically

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Publication number Publication date
CH108754A (fr) 1925-03-02

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