Improvements in the Construction of Electrolytic Apparatus and in the Application thereof in Oxidising, Chlorinating, and analogous Processes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Electrolytic Apparatus and
in the Application thereof in Oxidising, Chlorinating, and
analogous Processes.
We, JAMES HARGREAVES, of Farnworth-in-Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemical Engineer, and THOMAS BIRD, of Cressington, near Liverpool, in the
same county, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of sewage, paper pulp, and other matters
requiring to be subjected to the effect of oxidation, chlorination or analogous
reactions, and embraces the employment of electrolytic apparatus constructed on
the principle of that described in the Specification filed in pursuance of our
application for Letters Patent, dated the 21st day of October, 1892, No. 18,871,
but modified in various ways, according to the particular service to which it is to
be applied.
Assuming the apparatus to be applied, by way of example, to the oxidation of.
sewage, in which a certain quantity of chloride is usually present, a series of cells
may be employed; the rame being arranged in such a manner that the sewage
flows through each successively. The walls of each cell are, either wholly or
for the greater part, formed of permeable material (as described in our aforesaid
previous Specification) combined or in conjunction with a cathode composed of
wire gauze or perforated metal; and immersed in the sewage is an anode, which
may be of carbon. The anode is by preference arranged in such a manner as
to divide the cell into flow and return passages, thus directing the liquid into
contact with all parts of the diaphragm. The cell may itself be enclosed in a
chamber through which either cold or hot air or steam is caused to circulate.
The cathode and the anode being respectively in connection with the negative
and positive poles of a dynamo, battery or other source of electrical energy, chlorine
is yielded on the surface of the anode, which combining with hydrogen in the
water or organic matter forms hydrochloric acid, oxygen being liberated. The
hydrochloric acid is however immediately decomposed, hydrogen being liberated
from the cathode and the chlorine regenerated. From the cathode, there may
also be obtained sodium oxide and ammonia.
Where direct oxidation is desired—that is, without the intervention of chlorine―
such an acid as sulphuric or nitric (or a salt from which one or the other may be
derived) may be added to the material under treatment, the reaction ensuing
being of a well known character. In the application of such a process for
bleaching paper pulp, however, it is convenient to employ sodium chloride or an
equivalent chloride, the addition of sulphuric or nitric acid being in this case
dispensed with.
Apparatus of a similar description may, with the addition of guide-rollers
arranged in suitable positions, be employed for bleaching cloth. In this case, the
cloth in its passage between the surfaces of the anode and of the diaphragm and
adjacent cathode is accompanied by an electrolyte which may consist of a solution
of sodium chloride. Under such circumstances, chlorine is given off at the anode
and acts on the cloth, whilst sodium oxide and hydrogen are yielded on the
surface of the cathode.

page_text: The above affords an example only of the manner of using our said invention;
similar apparatus being applicable in the production of organic acids, the
preparation of aniline dyes, and in analogous processes.
Dated this 12th day of January 1894.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Electrolytic Apparatus and
in the Application thereof in Oxidising, Chlorinating, and
analogous Processes.
We, JAMES HARGREAVES, of Farnworth-in-Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemical Engineer, and THOMAS Bird, of Cressington, near Liverpool, in the
same county, Electrical Engineer, 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 :—
This invention relates to the treatment of sewage, paper pulp, and other matters
requiring to be subjected to the effect of oxidation, chlorination or analogous
electro-chemical action, and embraces the employment of electrolytic apparatus
constructed on the principle of that described in the Specification filed in pursuance
of our application for Letters Patent, dated the 21st day of October, 1892,
No. 18,871, but modified in various ways, according to the particular service to
which it is to be applied.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section illustrating one mode of carrying out our invention;
Fig. 2 being a similar view but showing a space for the circulation of cold or hot
air or steam.
Fig. 3 is a plan in section of a modified form of apparatus; Fig. 4 being a
further modification.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent respectively in vertical section and in plar apparatus
specially appropriate for treating such a material as paper pulp.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section of apparatus adapted for bleaching cloth and like
material.
The
Assuming the apparatus to be applied, by way of example, to the oxidation of
sewage, in which a certain quantity of chloride is usually present, a series of
cells A A¹ may be employed; the same being arranged in such a manner that the
sewage flows into and through each successively, as indicated by the arrows.
walls (or cathodes) a, a of each cell are, either wholly or for the greater part,
formed of permeable material (as described in our aforesaid previous Specification)
combined or in conjunction with a cathode composed of wire gauze or perforated
metal; and immersed in the sewage is an anode bbwhich may be of carbon. The
anode is by preference arranged in such a manner as to divide the cell into flow and
return passages, thus directing the liquid under treatment into contact with all
parts of the diaphragm. The cell or series of cells A A' is or are provided with a
cover B through which the anodes pass. Or the cell or series of cells may
itself or themselves be enclosed in a chamber (the bottom B' of such chamber
being shown in Fig. 2) through which either cold or hot air or steam is caused to
circulate. The cathodes a a and the anodes 66¹ being respectively in connection
with the negative and positive poles of a dynamo, battery or other source of
electrical energy, chlorine is yielded on the surface of the anode, which, combining
with hydrogen in the water or organic matter, forms hydrochloric acid, oxygen
being liberated. The hydrochloric acid is, however, immediately decomposed,

page_text: hydrogen being liberated from the cathode and the chlorine regenerated. From
the cathode, there may also be obtained sodium oxide and ammonia.
In Fig. 3 is illustrated a modified form of apparatus, in which the material to be
treated is caused to enter the cell A by way of the passage C, thence following the
course indicated by the arrows; the material being conducted from the cell A
to the next adjoining cell A' by way of the passage C'. The material may issue
through the outlet C' into a suitable receptacle or into another adjoining cell.
The material on entering the cell A is divided in its course by means of the
walls or cathodes a* a* and the current of the material is further divided by
reason of the anodes bb bb; the flow of the material through one cell A being
in one direction, and the flow through the other cell A' being in the reverse
direction. ce are spaces between the inner walls a*. The cell or series of cells
may be enclosed by a chamber through which, and the spaces e c' e, cold or hot
air or steam may be caused to circulate. The disposition of the electrodes in
this construction of apparatus affords a large area for acting upon the material
under treatment.
A further modification is represented in Fig. 4, in which the disposition of the
elements or electrodes (cathodes a a and anodes 6 6') permits a flow and return of
the material in the cells A and A' respectively. According to this arrangement,
the material is caused to enter the cell by way of the passage Cx and to follow the
course indicated by the arrows; passing on each side of the anode b, round the
cathode or inner wall a*, and thence on each side of the anode 6'; the material
is then conducted by way of the passage C³ to the next adjoining cell A¹, following
the same order of progress. The material may, as in the previous apparatus, be
led to a suitable receptacle, or may be conducted by way of the passage C³ to
another adjoining cell for further treatment.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a mode of construction specially adapted for oxidising
such a material as paper pulp. The apparatus consists of an outer vessel or
receptacle B* having an opening in its top or cover from which the electrolytic
cell may be suspended. The wall a of this cell is made as previously described
and consists of the combined cathode and porous diaphragın, the cell being
furnished with a perforated cover d, through which perforations the anodes bb b₁
in the form of rods, are passed and enter corresponding recesses formed in the
bottom e. f is a space into which steam or steam and air may be admitted.
Where direct oxidation is desired-that is, without the intervention of chlorine-
such an acid as sulphuric or nitric (or a salt from which one or the other may be
derived) may be added to the material under treatment, the reaction ensuing being
of a well known character. In the application of such a process for bleaching
paper pulp, however, it is convenient to employ sodium chloride or an equivalent
chloride, the addition of sulphuric or nitric acid being in this case dispensed with.
Fig. 7 illustrates a mode of construction adapted for use in bleaching cloth or
like material. In this case, the cloth is conducted between the surfaces of the
anode and of the adjacent diaphragm and cathode a; passing round guide-
rollers ggg, and being immersed in an electrolyte which may consist of a solution
of sodium chloride. Under such circumstances, chlorine is given off at the anode
and acts on the cloth, whilst sodium oxide and hydrogen are yielded on the surface
of the cathode.
The hereinbefore described types of apparatus are given as examples only of the
manner of carrying our invention into effect; such or similar apparatus being
applicable in the production of organic acids, the preparation of aniline dyes, and
in analogous processes.
The anode element may be of carbon when treating certain materials, such as
paper pulp, and of cast iron when treating such a material as sewage.
The elements or electrodes may be connected either in series (as in Fig. 3) or
parallel (as in Fig. 4), as circumstances or, the nature of the particular material
under treatment may require.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim :-
--
1. In effecting the oxidation, chlorination or similar treatment of sewage, paper
pulp and other matters, the employment of electrolytic apparatus constructed
substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. In effecting the oxidation, chlorination or similar treatment of sewage, paper
pulp and other matters, the employment of electrolytic apparatus constructed
substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In effecting the oxidation, chlorination or similar treatment of sewage, paper
pulp and other matters, the employment of electrolytic apparatus constructed
substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In effecting the oxidation, chlorination or similar treatment of sewage, paper
pulp and other matters, the employment of electrolytic apparatus constructed
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. For bleaching cloth and similar fabrics, the employment of electrolytic
apparatus, arranged substantially as described with reference to Fig. 7 of the
accompanying drawings.
48