Improvements relating to the Use and Treatment of Carbon in Electro-chemical or Electrolytic Processes, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Use and Treatment of Carbon in
Electro-chemical or Electrolytic Processes, and to Apparatus
therefor.
I, Dr. ALFRED COEHN, of 16ª Obere Karspüle, Göttingen, late of Berlin,
in the Empire of Germany, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.
to be as follows:-
In the employment of carbon anodes for electrolizing sulphuric acid or other
electrolytes, in which oxygen developes at the anode, such carbon anodes are
gradually disintegrated.
I have discovered that, by increasing the temperature of the electrolyte, such
disintegrating completely ceases and the carbon begins to dissolve.
This dissolving of carbon can be employed for various electrical purposes, as for
generating electricity by consuming carbon or for electrolytically producing
carbon deposits or coatings.
The said generation of electricity is performed by using on the one hand carbon
as the electrode to be dissolved (anode) and on the other hand a substance more
electronegative than carbon as the opposite electrode (cathode). In this case
peroxide of lead (as may be obtained in the form of accumulator-plates) is
advantageously used as such cathode opposite to the said carbon-anode. Such
cathode may be regenerated or recharged in any suitable or known manner, whereby,
if desired, an utilizable product (such as zinc) can be obtained.
Deposits or coatings of carbon may be produced by using carbon as the
anode and the article or plate, upon which the carbon is to be deposited, as the
cathode.
Dated the 10th day of March 1806
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
JMI LETE
Improvements relating to the Use and Treatment of Carbon in
Electro-chemical or Electrolytic Processes, and to Apparatus
therefor.
I, Dr. ALFRED COEHN, of 16A Obere Karspüle, Göttingen, late of Berlin, in
the Empire of Germany, 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 employment of carbon anodes for electrolizing sulphuric acid or other
electrolytes, in which oxygen developes at the anode, such carbon anodes are
gradually disintegrated.

page_text: I have discovered that, by increasing the temperature of the electrolyte more
or less according to the current-density and concentration of the said electrolyte,
such disintegration completely ceases and the carbon begins to dissolve. If, for
instance, the electrolyte consists of a solution of one part of concentrated
sulphuric acid and one part of water, the temperature should exceed 60° C. By
decreasing the concentration, however, the temperature may be diminished
below 60° C.
The operation of heating the electrolyte may be performed in any suitable aud
known manner by any heating method or apparatus. The electrolyte may, for
instance, be heated by arranging heating pipes in the vessel containing the
electrolyte, through which pipes steam or heating gases or vapours may be
passed; or the outer walls of the said vessel may be provided with a jacket
through which steam is conducted, or the said vessel may be heated in any other
suitable manner.
This dissolving of carbon can be employed for various electrical purposes, such
as for generating electricity by consuming carbon, or for electrolytically producing
carbon deposits or coatings.
The said generation of electricity is performed by using on the one hand
carbon as the electrode to be dissolved (anode), and on the other hand a substance
more electro-negative than carbon as the opposite electrode (cathode). In this
case peroxide of lead (as may be obtained in the form of accumulator-plates, is
advantageously used as such cathode opposite to the said carbon-anode. Such
cathode may be regenerated or recharged in any suitable known manner, thereby,
if desired, an utilizable product (such as zinc) can be obtained.
Deposits or coatings of carbon are produced by using carbon as the anode and
the article or plate, upon which the carbon is to be deposited, as the cathode.
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 :-
First. The solution of carbon from a carbon electrode in a sulphuric acid or
other electrolyte in which oxygen developes at the anode, at an elevated
temperature, substantially as herein before described.
Second. The electro-deposition of carbon substantially as hereinbefore
.described.
Third. An electric battery in which carbon is employed as one electrode and a
substance more electro-negative than carbon (such as peroxide of lead) as the other
electrode, substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day of December 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.