Patent ID: 6238547
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: C25B

Abstract:
A process for reacting a gas or a gas mixture with an ion-containing liquid in an electrochemical cell to obtain a gaseous or liquid reaction product which comprises the steps of:(a) providing an electrochemical cell which comprises(1) at least two electrodes having a plank-shaped or cylindrical design, including at least one anode and at least one cathode;(2) a d.c. power supply in electrical contact with each of said electrodes, said d.c. power supply applied to each of said electrodes from outside of the cell;(3) a liquid and gas-tight housing surrounding said at least two electrodes;(4) a sump at the bottom of the electrochemical cell comprising the ion-containing liquid in which the electrodes are immersed or partially immersed;(5) a gas inlet for introducing the gas or gas mixture reactive with the ion-containing liquid in the electrochemical cell;(6) an upper portion of the electrolytic cell above the liquid line of the ion-containing liquid in the sump wherein at least 20% of the entire surface of the at least one electrode partially immersed in the ion-containing liquid is disposed above the liquid line;(7) a gas outlet for removing the gaseous reaction product from the electrochemical cell;(8) an inlet for introducing fresh ion-containing liquid into the upper portion of the electrochemical cell;(9) an outlet for removing spent ion-containing liquid or the liquid reaction product from the sump of the electrolytic cell;(10) means for spraying a portion of the ion-containing liquid onto the at least 20% of the entire surface of the electrode disposed above the sump in the upper portion of the electrolytic cell; and(11) a pump for recirculating the ion-containing liquid from the sump to the means for spraying disposed above the sump;(b) spraying the at least 20% of the entire surface of the at least one of the electrodes disposed above the liquid line of the ion-containing liquid in the sump to wet the entire surface of the electrode above the liquid line;(c) introducing a gas or gas mixture reactive with the ion-containing liquid into the sump containing the ion-containing liquid; and(d) electrolytically reacting the ion-containing liquid with the gas or gas mixture reactive with the ion-containing liquid along the surface of the electrode above the liquid line to obtain a reaction product.