US2392236A - Process for the manufacture of alkali hydroxides and apparatus for carrying out reactions - Google Patents

Process for the manufacture of alkali hydroxides and apparatus for carrying out reactions Download PDF

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Publication number
US2392236A
US2392236A US40168741A US2392236A US 2392236 A US2392236 A US 2392236A US 40168741 A US40168741 A US 40168741A US 2392236 A US2392236 A US 2392236A
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Prior art keywords
amalgam
trough
liquid
tank
members
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Expired - Lifetime
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English (en)
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Edwards George Ernest
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Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01—Products
    • C25B1/34—Simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine, e.g. by chlor-alkali electrolysis
    • C25B1/36—Simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine, e.g. by chlor-alkali electrolysis in mercury cathode cells
    • C25B1/42—Decomposition of amalgams
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/2713—Siphons
    • Y10T137/272—Plural

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved process j and apparatus for carrying out reactions involving liquid amalgams, that is, solutions or liquid alloys of metals (e. g. sodium) with mercury; and
  • v spaced members of small cross-section of a metal so ing at least to the level inside the trough at which 25 with the amalgam, means for withdrawing the capable of being wetted by the amalgam-extendthe amalgam is maintained, over the edge of the trough, and thence downwards into the lower part of the vessel, means for suppl in to the reaction vessel the aqueous medium to .be contacted treated aqueous medium, and means for withtrough over the edge ofwhich they pass and that side is capable of being wetted by the amalcompactness of design in comparison with those types employing an almost horizontal trough for contactingthe amalgam with the aqueous liquid.
  • the members are in close proximity to the side of the gam.
  • a number ofseparatepaths are provided by the narrow spaces between the amalgamated sur-
  • The'vertical type would also possess the advan faces of adjacent metal members in which the tage as regards conservation of heat when work- 1 ing at an elevated temperature.
  • the above mentioned difllcuities are largely avoided or even entirely obviated by providing a process for reacting a liquid alkali metal amalgam with an aqueous liquid, e. g., water, or a dilute aqueous soluamalgam is retained by capillary attraction,
  • a liquid alkali metal amalgam with an aqueous liquid, e. g., water, or a dilute aqueous soluamalgam is retained by capillary attraction
  • amal-- gum is fed to the amalgamated, metal members from a vessel, e. 8., a trough;
  • eachtrough may havea separate feed for amalgam, or all the troughs may befsupplied with amalgam fro m m can be y "P 17 mfl n, and .so common distributing device.
  • a number-of troughs can be arranged pact apparatus with a comparatively large catrough is arranged parallel to the long sideof the rectangle, and within which trough is a horizonv tal bar adjustable in a vertical direction.
  • a horizonv tal bar adjustable in a vertical direction.
  • Amalgamated vertical iron wires pass beneath the upper bar, over the edges of the trough and round the lower bar, bein spaced apart from .each other by approximately their diameter, which suitably may be 01' the order of 0.1 or 0.05 inch. 'li'he spaces between successive wires thus formcapillary channels 'along which amalgam will be drawn.
  • the wires may be separate, or one length of wire may be wound over 1 the trough and lower bar many times to form a plurality of members, the ends of the wire or wires being in either case fixed, e. 8., to the lower ing out the invention.
  • the accompanying drawing illustrates a vertical transverse section of an apparatus for carry- In. this'drawing, the reactionvessel I, which is deep in comparison withits cross-section, has in its upper part a horizontal trough 2 maintained in position by supports 3.
  • the trough has one side 4 with a lip 5 extending the length of the trough and projecting inwardly. and upwardly, the thickness of the lip forming a surface 6 over which wires pass, as will be explained hereinafter.
  • the rear side I of the trough is higher than lip 5, and thusamalgam in the trough cannot. seep over it.
  • a vertical bar It having its'lower edge belowthe level of lip 5.
  • rods 9 acting as spacer bars for the wire 8
  • bar I0 vertically adjustable by bar.
  • the wires can be made sufficiently taut to steady them in position, and they can be bent downwards within the trough below the level of the amalgam therein.
  • Between the sides of,v the tank and the vertical wires arecarbon blockseither in direct contact with the wires or separated from them by a short distance, and in electrical contact with them by means of internal or external connections.
  • Means are provided for feeding a liquid alkali metal amalgam to the trough through a regulating device from a stock tank or direct from the electrolytic cell in which it is made, and for withdrawing denuded amalgam from the bottom of the tank for return to the cell.
  • a weir and overfiow may be provided for regulating the level of amalgam in the trough or alternatively this re gmeansof the screw thread and lock nuts II.
  • Wire 8 which provides the downwardly extending paths for the amalgam has one end (not shown) fixed to one end of bar I II and is wound helix-wise around bar III and trough 2 so thateach turn passes under bar I0, over the edge of side I, under bar I5, over and in contact with surfaces 8, 5 and l, and then vertically downwards to pass again under bar I0 and so on.
  • the second end of the wire is fixed to the second end of bar II).
  • the turns are spaced apart by ap-- proximately the diameter of the wire, so that extending downwards from face 4 are a large number of lengths of wire, the various spaces between adjacent ones constituting 1 separate paths for amalgam extending from. inside the trough, over 40 the lip 5, and thence downwards through the reulation may be achieved by a valve, a provision'Tor equivalent means in the amalgam supply pipe.
  • an inlet pipe for water or caustic liquor is provided and slightlyabove the level of the trough .an outlet for the caustic liquor produced.
  • a circuit ineluding a pumping mechanism may be set up,
  • liquor can be obtained by one passage through the apparatus.
  • a liquor containing 45% to 50% NaOH canbe obtained without recirculating.
  • the tank is filled with water'or dilute caustic liquor and amalgam is delivered to the trough until the lowest part ofthe wires in it are covered, and the level or the amalgam is such that it is able to travel along the spaces between the amalgamated wires bent over the trough up to the edge of the latter and thence down the descending portions of the wires;
  • Reaction vessel I has an inlet I6 for water or dilute caustic alkali and an outlet I8 for denuded amalgam and the side of reaction vessel I is disposed a block of graphite I2 to promote the decomposition of the amalgam by the aqueous liquor; the block is fixed to the vessel I by bolts I3 and metal strips II, are provided in 800d electrical contact with bolts I3 and the. outside indirectly in electrical communication with the amalgam through bolts I3, strips I4, reaction vessel I, support 3 and-trough 2. Means; not shown, arealso provided for delivering amalgam to the trough 2 and for regulating the supply so as to maintain a suitable level in the trough.
  • the surfaces 4', 5, 8 and the surfaces of wire 8 are amalgamated, water or dilute causticalkali is supplied to the vessel I so as to fill it up to the level ofoutlet I1, and amalgam is supplied to'the' trough up to somewhatabove supply of amalgam is then maintained at such a rate that denudation o! the amalgam is substantially completeby the time it has travelled to the bottom of the tank.
  • amalgam is supplied to'the' trough up to somewhatabove supply of amalgam is then maintained at such a rate that denudation o! the amalgam is substantially completeby the time it has travelled to the bottom of the tank.
  • the amab gam In travelling down between the wires the amab gam is denuded by reaction with the aqueous caustic alkali in the vessel I, and on reaching the part of the wire curtain between the spacer bar l and the bottom bar In the denuded amalgam will fall from the wires to the bottom or the tank and can be drawn oil through exit II.
  • the flow ct amalgam and of caustic alkali are regulated relative to one another so that optimum denudation of the amalgam is obtained while a concentrated liquor can be drawn oil at the caustic liquor outlet il.
  • both sides of trough 2 may be arranged to delive'r amalgam to wires passing over themdown into the tank.
  • a similar graphite block may be inserted on the other side of the wires to which amalgam is supplied, i. e., in the space immediately be-
  • the apparatus may be used to carry out other processes for reacting liquid amalgams with aqueous liquids, e. g., for reducing aqueous solutions of organic compounds, for reducing -sul-. phites to hydrosulphites, or for reducing alkali metal polysulphide solutions to sulphide lutions.
  • the carbon b ocks acting as depolarizing devices described in connection with that form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing will not, in
  • An apparatus 'ior carrying out a reaction between a liquid and a reaction fluid in a continuous manner comprising a tank, an inlet at one level for supplying reactive fluid to the tank,
  • An apparatus for feeding a liquid to a reaction zone comprising a trough having one side terminating upwardly in a horizontal edge, and 5 being adapted to contain the, liquid at a maintained level below the said edge, and a plurality of members of small cross-section wettable by the liquid disposed side by side in laterally spaced I relation to define capillary channels therebetween, which members extend from the .trough below the said level over the said edge and downwardly outside the trough to below the said'level. the extent of said members above said level being such that the liquid can rise by capillary action 7 between them and flow over said edge.
  • apparatus for reacting a liquid with a reactiv fluid comprising a tank. an inlet at one level for supplying reactive fluid to the mm, an
  • An apparatus for feeding a liquid to a retion of said tank having one side terminating upwardly in-a horizontal edge and being adapted to contain the liquid at a maintained level below said edge, and a plurality of members of small cross-section wettable by the. liquid disposed sideby side in laterally spaced relation to define capillary channelstherebetween, which members extendirom the trough below the saidmembers being in such laterally spaced relation that capillary action will cause the liquid to rise over said horizontalqedge for gravity flow down and between the partsof the said members, within the tank.
  • - reactive fluid comprising a tank adapted'to con maintained level, over the said edge, and 'downwardly to the lower part of the tank, the extentof said membersiabove the said maintained level being such that the liquid can rise byv capillary action between them and-flow'bvensaidedge;
  • reactive fluid comprising a tank adapted to contain said fluid, a trough for the liquid in the upper part of the tank having a side portion wettable by the liquid terminating'upwardly in a horizontal edge, and aj'plurality of separate members of small cross-sectional area wettable by the liquid leading from within said trough over said horizontal edge, downwardly and in contact with said side portion, and thence into the lower part of the tank, said'members being GEORGE Emms'r nnwanns

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
US40168741 1940-08-28 1941-07-09 Process for the manufacture of alkali hydroxides and apparatus for carrying out reactions Expired - Lifetime US2392236A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1356540A GB543539A (en) 1940-08-28 1940-08-28 Processes and apparatus for carrying out reactions

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US2392236A true US2392236A (en) 1946-01-01

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US (1) US2392236A (OSRAM)
BE (1) BE442275A (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR885094A (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB543539A (OSRAM)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2527443A (en) * 1948-02-26 1950-10-24 Ethyl Corp Process for disposal of mixtures of metallic sodium and calcium
US2577054A (en) * 1946-06-24 1951-12-04 American Potash & Chem Corp Automatic bromine water feeder
US2610908A (en) * 1946-03-09 1952-09-16 Solvay Process of and apparatus for producing caustic solutions of high concentration
US2660517A (en) * 1952-01-29 1953-11-24 Ethyl Corp Production of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen from elemental sodium
US2706890A (en) * 1950-05-15 1955-04-26 Schmidt Ernst Heinrich Wilhelm Production of steam under pressure
US2926990A (en) * 1954-09-21 1960-03-01 Callery Chemical Co Salt conversion process
US2938773A (en) * 1954-03-06 1960-05-31 Zoutindustrie Apparatus for the reduction of solutions by means of a liquid amalgam

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2610908A (en) * 1946-03-09 1952-09-16 Solvay Process of and apparatus for producing caustic solutions of high concentration
US2577054A (en) * 1946-06-24 1951-12-04 American Potash & Chem Corp Automatic bromine water feeder
US2527443A (en) * 1948-02-26 1950-10-24 Ethyl Corp Process for disposal of mixtures of metallic sodium and calcium
US2706890A (en) * 1950-05-15 1955-04-26 Schmidt Ernst Heinrich Wilhelm Production of steam under pressure
US2660517A (en) * 1952-01-29 1953-11-24 Ethyl Corp Production of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen from elemental sodium
US2938773A (en) * 1954-03-06 1960-05-31 Zoutindustrie Apparatus for the reduction of solutions by means of a liquid amalgam
US2926990A (en) * 1954-09-21 1960-03-01 Callery Chemical Co Salt conversion process

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Publication number Publication date
GB543539A (en) 1942-03-02
FR885094A (fr) 1943-09-03
BE442275A (OSRAM) 1900-01-01

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