Improvements in Means to be Employed in the Electrolytic Manufacture of Chlorates.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, &th June, 1900-Accepted, 28th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means to be Employed in the Electrolytic
Manufacture of Chlorates.
We, PAUL IMHOFF, Ph.D., Chemist, JULIUS RASCHEN, Ph.D., Chemist, and
THE UNITED ALKALI COMPANY, LIMITED, all of 30, James Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows —
In the electrolytic manufacture of chlorates of the alkalies, or alkaline earths,
from the corresponding chlorides as hitherto carried out, in cells with, or without,
diaphragm, the current efficiency has always been a poor one in consequence of
secondary reactions taking place which adversely affect the yield of chlorate,
and the object of this invention is to minimise these secondary reactions and thus
obtain a greatly improved yield of chlorate and also, by dispensing with a
diaphragm and by providing an improved anode, to reduce the resistance of
the cell.
In carrying out this invention a cell is used of any convenient construction,
and made of any suitable material such for instance as enamelled iron, slate,
or stoneware. Into this cell is introduced the solution of the chloride of the
alkali, or alkaline earth, to be treated to which the necessary quantity of the
corresponding caustic alkali, or alkaline earth, has been added, and which is
maintained at a temperature of about 70° Centigrade. As anode, platinum, or
platinum-iridium, is used, either in the form of wire, or narrow strips, or the
like, which we prefer to weld together by means of a piece or pieces of thin
platinum or platinum-iridium wire, in order to render the anode sufficiently rigid.
By this arrangement a minimum weight of platinum or platinum-iridium is
presented to the largest area of cathode without increasing the distance between
the electrodes, thus ensuring a more uniform current density and correspondingly
lesser resistance and increased current efficiency. Nickel is employed as cathode
as we have found that the electrolyte has little, or no, action thereon. It is
preferred to use two nickel sheets as cathode one placed on either side of the
anode, and these may be in the form of wires or strips or the like. Or the con-
taining cell may be made of or lined with nickel and utilised as cathode.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1899.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means to be Employed in the Electrolytic
Manufacture of Chlorates.
We, PAUL IMHOFF, Ph.D., Chemist, JULIUS RASCHEN, Ph.D., Chemist, and
THE UNITED ALKALI COMPANY, LIMITED, all of 30, James Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
Price 1

page_text: and in what manner the sanie is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In the electrolytic manufacture of chlorates of the alkalies, or alkaline earths,
from the corresponding chlorides as hitherto carried out in cells, with, or without,
diaphragms, the current efficiency has always been a poor one in consequence of
secondary reactions taking place which adversely affect the yield of chlorate,
and the object of this invention is to minimise these secondary reactions and thus
obtain a greatly improved yield of chlorate and also, by dispensing with a
diaphragm, and by providing an improved anode to reduce the resistance of
the cell.
In the accompanying drawing we have shewn a cell in accordance with this
invention in section in Figure 1 and in face view in Figure 2 we have shewn
an anode constructed in accordance with this invention. Figure 3 is a
modification.
In carrying out this invention a cell A is used of any convenient construction
and made of any suitable material, such, for instance, as enamelled iron, slate,
or stoneware. into this cell is introduced the solution of the chloride of the
alkali, or alkaline earth to be treated to which the necessary quantity of the
corresponding caustic alkali, or alkaline earth has been added, and which is
maintained at a temperature of about 70° Centigrade, which can be done in any
suitable manner, for instance if necessary by means of a steam jacket around the
cell as shewn at B. An anode is employed of platinum, or platinum-iridium
which is made of wires, or strips or the like, et which we prefer to connect together
by welding thereto a piece, or pieces, of thin platinum, or platinum-iridium
wire, or strip, or the like c in order to render the anode sufficiently rigid. By
this construction of anode a minimum weight of platinum (or platinum-iridium)
is presented to the largest area of cathode without increasing the distance between
the electrodes thus ensuring a more uniform current density and correspondingly
lesser resistance and increased current efficiency. Nickel is employed as cathode,
as we have found that the electrolyte has little, or no, action thereon. It is
preferred to use nickel sheets D as cathode, one sheet being placed on either side
of the anode, and these may be in the form of wires, strips, or the like, as shewn
with regard to the anode, or one cathode may be used and two anodes, as described,
placed on either side. Or the containing cell may be made of, or lined with,
nickel and be utilized as cathode as shewn at D in Figure 3 wherein the parts
which correspond with those shewn in Figures 1 and 2 are marked with the same
letters of reference.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1. For use in the manufacture of chlorates, an anode made of platinum, or
platinum-iridium, in wires, strips or the like; substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. For use in the manufacture of chlorates a cathode of nickel, as hereinbefore
set forth.
3. For use in the manufacture of chlorates, an anode, made as described, in
combination with a cathode of nickel; as hereinbefore set forth.
4. For use in the manufacture of chlorates, an anode, made as described, with
cathodes formed of nickel sheets or wires, strips or the like, placed one on either
side of the anode, as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 8th day of June 1900.
JUHNSONS & WILLGUA,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.