US3002914A - Preparation of electrodes for electrolysis of aqueous solutions by the mercury process - Google Patents
Preparation of electrodes for electrolysis of aqueous solutions by the mercury process Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3002914A US3002914A US658965A US65896557A US3002914A US 3002914 A US3002914 A US 3002914A US 658965 A US658965 A US 658965A US 65896557 A US65896557 A US 65896557A US 3002914 A US3002914 A US 3002914A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- mercury
- iron
- electrolysis
- electrodes
- preparation
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 34
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 34
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 6
- 238000005868 electrolysis reaction Methods 0.000 title description 4
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 title 2
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 68
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 30
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 20
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 20
- 238000005267 amalgamation Methods 0.000 description 8
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 8
- 239000002966 varnish Substances 0.000 description 8
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229910000497 Amalgam Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010953 base metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- UXVMQQNJUSDDNG-UHFFFAOYSA-L cacl2 Chemical compound [Cl-].[Cl-].[Ca+2] UXVMQQNJUSDDNG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052718 tin Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N tin hydride Chemical compound [Sn] ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
Classifications
-
- 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
- C25B11/00—Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for
- C25B11/04—Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for characterised by the material
- C25B11/042—Electrodes formed of a single material
- C25B11/045—Mercury or amalgam
Description
gmii
It is known that the support for the mobile cathode in horizontal mercury cells is constituted in a large number of cases by a steel or iron plate. In the case of mercury cells of the vertical type, with or without a support for the mobile cathode, iron is usedpractically exclusively. It is further known that the metal support must be perfectly amalgamated in order to ensure the best possible circulation and distribution of the mercury and in order to avoid premature corrosion of the metal support by the electrolysis. The Wetting of the metallic surface thus attains considerable importance especially when the cell is put into service. It has been proposed to cover the cathode support (German Patent No. 692,- 954), especially if it is of iron, with a very thin layer of another metal such as tin, copper, lead or the like. This metal deposit has as its object the favouring of the wetting by the mercury, the met-a1 deposited having the well known property of easy amalgamation.
This process is, however, not without disadvantages. The metals thus carried dissolve in the mercury with the result that the iron supports deteriorate rather quickly and that after the cell has been stopped it is necessary to renew the amalgamatable covering; furthermore, the metal which has passed into solution in the mercury is carried by the latter towards the decomposition apparatus for the amalgamation and it deposits on the graphite of the cathodes of this apparatus and thus rapidly reduces their activity. Moreover the couples formed by the covering metals and the iron which they cover can bring about corrosion in the latter. The object of the present invention is to avoid these disadvantages. The invention is based on the observation that the quality of the iron used as supporting metal for the mercury cathode of the electrolytic cell has a marked influence on the ease of amalgamation of this support; thus, electrolytic iron amalgamates more easily and maintains its amalgamation far longer than in the case of ordinary iron or steel.
The invention consists in a process for making supports for mobile cathodes of electrolytic cells of the vertical type which is characterised in that there is electrolytically deposited on a metallic plate, preferably of iron, a layer of pure iron, this layer being several tenths of millimetre in thickness. The added electrolytic iron of which the purity may be very high does not dissolve in the mercury as the readily amalgamated metals do. This addition to the base metal is carried out once and for all since the life of the layer is very long compared with that of the other metals referred to. Electrolytic deposition of iron, correctly carried out, provides a very finely roughened surface which, particularly in the case of the vertical mobile mercury cathode cells, retains mercury and amalgam, thus assuring efficient and regular operation of the apparatus.
To produce such an addition of iron for example with a thickness of up to 0.9 millimetre a known bath is used containing for example 300 grams of FeCl .2l-I O and 150 grams of CaCl per litre of solution, having a atent C pH value of 1.5 to 2 with or without further additions; the current density being between 4 and 4.5 amperes per square decimeter of cathode surface and the temperature being of the order to C.
The invention is not limited to the formation of a mercury cathode support with a uniformly polished surface. It comprises likewise the manufacture of grooved supports and embossed supports such as those which form the object of U.S. patent application 479,746 filed January 4, 1955, in the names of Charles Deprez and lean Clement, now Patent No. 2,849,393.
According to a further feature of the invention a network of lines is traced on the supporting plate with the aid of an insulating varnish and an electrolytic deposit of iron is obtained on the surface not covered by varnish, up to a thickness of some tenths of millimeter after which the varnish is dissolved away from the grooves thus formed.
It is clear that the varnish must be resistant to the physical and chemical influences to which it will be submitted.
In the same way one can obtain embossings of any shape constituted by the added electrolytic iron.
The supports thus formed present, apart from the advantage 'already stated, that of a lower cost of replacement than in the case of a grooved cathode prepared by mechanical means. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain a groove-design as complicated as can be desired whereas this is difficult to achieve by mechanical means. Likewise one can treat surfaces of any size or shape.
The deposits of electrolytic iron can be obtained in the electrolytic cell itself. To this end it is suflicient to replace the graphite anodes by iron anodes and to replace the electrolyte by an appropriate solution having the composition indicated above. Operating in this way permits economy in the use and with special respect to special installations which are generally undesirable.
I claim:
1. In an electrolytic cell having a mobile mercury cathode, a support for said mercury comprising a metallic base plate having upon its mercury-contacting surface an electro-deposited coating of soft iron having a thickness up to 0.9
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrodeposited coating covers limited areas of said base plate, thereby forming a grooved pattern on said plate.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS with a Mercury Cathode, Field Information Agency Technical, June 17, 1946, page 7.
Claims (1)
1. IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL HAVING A MOBILE MERCURY CATHODE, A SUPPORT FOR SAID MERCURY COMPRISING A METALLIC BASE PLATE HAVING UPON ITS MERCURY-CONTACTING SURFACE AN ELECTRO-DEPOSITED COATING OF SOFT IRON HAVING A THICKNESS UP TO 0.9 MM.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| BE360977X | 1956-05-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3002914A true US3002914A (en) | 1961-10-03 |
Family
ID=3868419
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US658965A Expired - Lifetime US3002914A (en) | 1956-05-23 | 1957-05-14 | Preparation of electrodes for electrolysis of aqueous solutions by the mercury process |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3002914A (en) |
| BE (1) | BE548025A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH360977A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE1038012B (en) |
| FR (1) | FR1175278A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3409465A (en) * | 1962-03-30 | 1968-11-05 | Ziegler | Process for improving the wettability of solid metallic surfaces by molten alkali metals |
| US3477876A (en) * | 1966-06-13 | 1969-11-11 | Dow Chemical Co | Galvanic cell employing iron cathode and method of producing galvanic cathode having activated iron surface |
| US3481856A (en) * | 1965-09-25 | 1969-12-02 | Basf Ag | Vertical mercury cathode electrolytic cells |
Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US100580A (en) * | 1870-03-08 | Improvement in inlaying- metallic surfaces | ||
| GB190216358A (en) * | 1902-07-23 | 1903-06-11 | Leo Gurwitsch | Improvements in Electrolytic Processes and in Apparatus therefor. |
| US1030490A (en) * | 1911-06-07 | 1912-06-25 | Henry Noel Potter | Apparatus for the recovery of precious metals. |
| US2538991A (en) * | 1946-04-06 | 1951-01-23 | Buel Metals Company | Process for producing brittle iron plate |
| GB667477A (en) * | 1949-03-07 | 1952-03-05 | Basf Ag | Improvements in electrolytic cells |
| US2684522A (en) * | 1950-07-24 | 1954-07-27 | Globe Union Inc | Thin high dielectric constant sheets |
| US2688594A (en) * | 1948-12-27 | 1954-09-07 | American Enka Corp | Mercury cell |
| US2728693A (en) * | 1953-08-24 | 1955-12-27 | Motorola Inc | Method of forming electrical conductor upon an insulating base |
| US2745800A (en) * | 1953-01-16 | 1956-05-15 | Horst Corp Of America V D | Electroplating with iron |
| US2849393A (en) * | 1954-01-27 | 1958-08-26 | Solvay | Cathodic device for electrolytic cells having a moving mercury cathode |
-
0
- BE BE548025D patent/BE548025A/xx unknown
-
1957
- 1957-04-20 DE DES53228A patent/DE1038012B/en active Pending
- 1957-05-09 CH CH360977D patent/CH360977A/en unknown
- 1957-05-14 US US658965A patent/US3002914A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1957-05-16 FR FR1175278D patent/FR1175278A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US100580A (en) * | 1870-03-08 | Improvement in inlaying- metallic surfaces | ||
| GB190216358A (en) * | 1902-07-23 | 1903-06-11 | Leo Gurwitsch | Improvements in Electrolytic Processes and in Apparatus therefor. |
| US1030490A (en) * | 1911-06-07 | 1912-06-25 | Henry Noel Potter | Apparatus for the recovery of precious metals. |
| US2538991A (en) * | 1946-04-06 | 1951-01-23 | Buel Metals Company | Process for producing brittle iron plate |
| US2688594A (en) * | 1948-12-27 | 1954-09-07 | American Enka Corp | Mercury cell |
| GB667477A (en) * | 1949-03-07 | 1952-03-05 | Basf Ag | Improvements in electrolytic cells |
| US2684522A (en) * | 1950-07-24 | 1954-07-27 | Globe Union Inc | Thin high dielectric constant sheets |
| US2745800A (en) * | 1953-01-16 | 1956-05-15 | Horst Corp Of America V D | Electroplating with iron |
| US2728693A (en) * | 1953-08-24 | 1955-12-27 | Motorola Inc | Method of forming electrical conductor upon an insulating base |
| US2849393A (en) * | 1954-01-27 | 1958-08-26 | Solvay | Cathodic device for electrolytic cells having a moving mercury cathode |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3409465A (en) * | 1962-03-30 | 1968-11-05 | Ziegler | Process for improving the wettability of solid metallic surfaces by molten alkali metals |
| US3481856A (en) * | 1965-09-25 | 1969-12-02 | Basf Ag | Vertical mercury cathode electrolytic cells |
| US3477876A (en) * | 1966-06-13 | 1969-11-11 | Dow Chemical Co | Galvanic cell employing iron cathode and method of producing galvanic cathode having activated iron surface |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR1175278A (en) | 1959-03-23 |
| BE548025A (en) | |
| CH360977A (en) | 1962-03-31 |
| DE1038012B (en) | 1958-09-04 |
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