Improvements relating to the Electrolytic Extraction of Metals, and to the Electrolysis of other Substances.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Electrolytic Extraction of Metals, and
to the Electrolysis of other Substances.
I, Dr. CARL HOEPFNER of Giessen, at present residing at Konigshutte, Upper
Silesia, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the electrolytic extraction of metals, and to the
electrolysis of other substances.
The electrolytic extraction of metals by the liquid processes is rendered very
difficult and costly by reason of the fact that the carbon anodes, if produced
artificially, are not durable enough, and, if made of retort graphite, become too
expensive.
According to my invention the carbon substance of electrolytic anodes is wholly
or partly replaced by ferrosilicon which can be cast to any desired form,
constitutes a good conductor, is cheap, and presents great durability as compared
with chemical solvents.
It is well known that ferrosilicon has already been used by Uelsmann for the
cathodes in Bunsen batteries, but this use is restricted to batteries having
nitric acid as an exciting liquid, in circumstances where a preserving effect of the
electric current is presumed.
Concentrated nitric acid does not for instance attack either wrought iron or
aluminum; the two metals do not however resist chlorine, not even hydrochloric
acid, whereas this is the case with ferrosilicon. Moreover, a metal, as an anode
developing chlorine, is extremely liable to be dissolved, much more so than when
placed in the nitric acid of an electric battery. Ferrosilicon, which may of course
also contain carbon, may be replaced by native silicon, ferrochromium, ferrotungsten,
metallic chromium or tungsten, or variable mixtures of the aforesaid substances,
with or without a quantity of carbon, or lastly, in certain cases where
depolarisation of the anodes takes place by liquids having a reducing action, by
molten disulphide or iron.
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Use is made of the said metals or metallic compounds as anodes in the
electrolysis of halogen salts or oxygen salts of the heavy and light metals or
metallic radicles, more especially in the direct electrolytic extraction of copper, in
the electrolysis of acids and alkalies, potassium chloride sodium chloride, in the
electrolysis of cyanides, organic substances and the like, and generally wherever
expensive carbons or platinum have hitherto been employed.
Dated this 28th day of May 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Electrolytic Extraction of Metals, and
to the Electrolysis of other Substances.
I, Dr. CARL HÖEPFNER, of Giessen, at present residing at Königshütte,
Upper Silesia, in the Empire of Germany, 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:-
My invention relates to the electrolytic extraction of metals, and to the
electrolysis of other substances.

page_text: The electrolysis of salts or the electrolytic extraction of metals is rendered very
difficult and costly by reason of the fact that the carbon anodes, if produced
artificially are not durable enough and, if made of retort-graphite, become too
expensive.
According to the aforesaid invention the carbon substance of electrolytic anodes
is wholly or partly replaced by ferro-silicon which can be cast to any desired
form, constitutes a good conductor, is cheap, and is very durable against the action
of chemical solvents.
It is well known that ferrosilicon has already been used by Uelsmann for the
cathodes in Bunsen batteries, but this use, is restricted to batteries having nitric
acid as an exciting liquid, and under circumstances in which a preserving effect of
the electric current is presumed.
Concentrated nitric acid does not for instance attack either wrought iron or
aluminium, the two inetals do not however resist chlorine, not even hydrochloric
acid, whereas this is the case with ferrosilicon. Moreover a metal, as an anode
developing chlorine, is extremely liable to be dissolved, much more so than when
placed in the nitric acid of an electric battery. Ferrosilicon which may of course
also contain carbon may be replaced by native silicon, boron, chrome or tungsten
or their alloys of iron, or variable mixtures of the aforesaid substances, with or
without a quantity of carbon, or lastly, in certain cases where a depolarization of
the anodes takes place by liquids having a reducing action, by molten
poly-sulphide of iron which may be split from crude iron pyrites, agglomerated,
melted or produced in any other manner by artificial means.
Use is advantageously made of the said metals or metallic compounds as anodes
in the electrolysis of halogen salts or oxygen salts of the heavy and light metals
or metallic radicles, more especially in the direct electrolytic extraction of copper,
in the electrolysis of acids and alkalies, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, in the
electrolysis of cyanides, organic substances, and the like and generally wherever
expensive carbons or platinum have hitherto been employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. The employment of ferrosilicon with or without an admixture of other
substances, such as carbon for anodes in electrolytic decomposing vessels,
especially in the electrolytic extraction of metals and in the electrolysis of
halogen salts.
Second. The substitution of ferrosilicon used as above stated by native silicon,
boron, tungsten, chrome, or their alloys of iron, or any desired mixtures of the said
substances with or without an admixture of carbon or other ingredients.
Third. The substitution of the substances mentioned in the first and second
claims by poly sulphide of iron in cases where a chemical depolarization of the
anode by a liquid having a reducing action is intended.
Dated this 25th day of February 1892.
..
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.