Improvements in or connected with Cells for Electrolysing Chloride Solutions.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1892-Accepted, 18th July,
1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cells for Electrolysing
Chloride Solutions.
We THOMAS PARKER Works Director of the Electric Construction Corporation
Limited of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford and ALFRED EDWARD
ROBINSON Technical Chemist to the said Corporation do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
―:
In electrolysing chloride solutions the liberated chlorine is liable to attack the
anode of the cell and it is the object of this invention to provide an anode for, or
in, such a cell, which will not be attacked by the said liberated chlorine. We have
found that phosphide of chromium when used as an anode is not attacked by the
chlorine liberated in an electrolytic cell and, according to our invention, we there-
fore use as, or for, or in the making of, the anode phosphide of chromium, either as
definite, or pure, or commercial phosphide of chromium, or in other form.
Dated this 28th day of March 1892.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cells for Electrolysing
Chloride Solutions.
We THOMAS PARKER, Works Director of the Electric Construction Corporation
Limited of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford and ALFRED EDWARD
ROBINSON, Technical Chemist to the said Corporation do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In electrolysing chloride solutions the liberated chlorine is liable to attack the
anode of the cells and it is the object of this invention to provide an anode for, or
in, such cells, which will not be attacked by the said liberated chlorine. We have
found that phosphide of chromium, when used as an anode, is not attacked (or is
but very slightly attacked) by the chlorine liberated in an electrolytic cell and
according to our invention we therefore use phosphide of chromium as, or for, or in
the making of, the anode, either as definite, or pure or commercial phosphide of
chromium, or in other form.
For example we may make the anode as follows:-
We mix phosphate of chromium, with carbon and subject the mixture to a high
temperature in a furnace giving a high degree of heat, or in a crucible, or in a
cupola, or in a furnace resembling a blast furnace; a suitable flux being used if
necessary. By this means the chromium is reduced to a metallic state and takes,
up the required amount of phosphorus which is also reduced at the same time, or
the anode may be made in an electrical furnace by heating phosphate of chromium
or oxide of chromium with other phosphates, such as the phosphate of calcium or
aluminium and passing an electric current through to obtain the necessary
temperature.
Pure phosphate of chromium need not be used as an impure ore such as a
commercial ore of, chromium and iron or chromium and aluminium may be used.
The phosphide produced may be cast or otherwise formed into suitable shapes and
sizes for the required anode. For instance they may be flat or round or in shot
form contained in wicker crates.

page_text: In conjunction with the anodes described the cathodes at the opposite pole where
zine or sodium or other element may be discharged may be of any suitable
character such for instance as zinc in the case of depositing zinc from zinc chloride.
and iron may be used in treating chloride of sodium.
If the current density should happen to be very high the anode may be slightly
attacked by the liberated chlorine but the soluble, salt of chromium produced in
such case can be readily removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
..In, or for cells for electrolysing chloride solutions an anode composed of, or
containing phosphide of chromium substantially as hereinbefore described:
Dated this 13th day of June 1892.
:
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.