Improvements in the Preparation of Carbon Electrodes for Electrolytic Operations.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Carbon Electrodes for
Electrolytic Operations.
I EDWARD HENRY LIVEING of 52 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square,.
London, W., Electrical Engineer and Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
In the electrolysis of solutions of chloride of sodium or potassium or other metals,
the destruction of the anode (or positive electrode) has been one of the chief
difficulties in the way of rendering these operations commercially successful.
Hard gas-retort carbon, which is produced by the decomposition of the hydro-
carbons of the gas against the heated sides of the retort, has generally been found
the most suitable material, but even this is open to objection, principally, as I
believe, on account of the presence of undecomposed hydrocarbons in the carbon,
which hydrocarbons, being acted on in various ways during the electrolysis, have
not only a tendency to disintegrate the carbon and shorten the life of the electrode,
but also to give rise to the appearance of a colouring matter or dye in the solution,
the presence of which is liable to render the commercial products of the electrolysis
more or less unfit for use.
The object of the present invention is to effect the removal of the undecomposed
hydrocarbons from the retort carbon, before the latter is used as an electrode,
so as to obviate the objections which may arise from their presence.
In carrying out my invention, I submit the carbon to a bigh temperature in a
current or atmosphere of chlorine gas, which treatment will have the effect of
removing the impurities to a considerable extent, thereby rendering the carbon,
when used as electrodes, more durable, and otherwise more suitable, than carbon
not so treated, for electrolytic purposes.
Duted this 20th dor of Fohow 1002
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Carbon Electrodes for
Electrolytic Operations.
I EDWARD HENRY LIVEING of 52 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square,
London, W., Electrical Engineer and Chemist, 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 the electrolysis of solutions of chloride of sodium or potassium or other
metals, the destruction of the anode (or positive electrode) has been one of the
chief difficulties in the way of rendering these operations commercially successful.
Hard gas retort carbon, which is produced by the decomposition of the hydro-
carbons of the gas against the heated sides of the retort, has generally been
found the most suitable material, but even this is open to objection, principally,
as I believe, on account of the presence of undecomposed hydro-carbons in the
carbon, which hydrocarbons, being acted on in various ways during the electrolysis,
have not only a tendency to disintegrate the carbon and shorten the life of the
electrode. but also to give rise to the appearance of a colouring matter, or dye,
in the solution, the presence of which is liable to render the commercial products
of the electrolysis more or less unfit for use.

page_text: The object of the present invention is to effect the removal of the undecomposed
hydrocarbons from the retort carbon, before the latter is used as an electrode, so
as to obviate the objections which may arise from their presence.
In carrying out my invention, I submit the carbon to a high temperature in a
current or atmosphere of chlorine gas, which treatment will have the effect of
removing the impurities to a considerable extent.
The
In order to carry out this treatment, the pieces of carbon to be used as anodes
may be placed in a fire-clay retort or tube, provided with detachable ends, which
are luted on as soon as the pieces of carbon are in place; the ends have also tubes
which are connected to a supply of chlorine gas produced by well-known chemical
methods, or by an electrolytic tank decomposing brine, if desired; the chlorine is
kept at a slight pressure so as to ensure the absence of air within the retort.
retort is fixed in a simple furnace (like, a muffle furnace), fed with coke, and
provided with a good draught, so that it and its contents can be raised to a good
bright red heat, at which it is maintained from 2 to 6 hours (according to the
thickness of the carbon), while a slow current of chlorine gas (which should be
well dried from moisture by passing it over chloride of calcium or sulphuric acid)
passes over and between the pieces of carbon, slowly decomposing the non-volatile
hydrocarbons which they ordinarily contain, and rendering them more resisting,
and otherwise more suitable as anodes for electrolytic operations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Preparing carbon electrodes by heating gas retort carbon in an atmosphere of
chlorine gas substantially as herein before described, in order to render such carbon
less liable to disintegration, when used for electrolytic operations.
Dated this 17th day of November 1893.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.