Improvements in or connected with Electrolysis.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electrolysis.
I, ERNEST ARTHUR LE SUEUR of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, Dominion of
Canada, Electro Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows :―
In electrolytic cells for the double decomposition of solutions of any of the
alkaline baloids it is necessary for satisfactory working that the liquid in contact
with the positive electrode is kept as free as possible from the hydrate or compounds
thereof of the metal and it is the object of the diaphragm usually employed to attain
this end as far as possible. It frequently happens however that leakage or diffusion
of hydrate takes place through the diaphragm from the negative electrode side to
the positive electrode side such as to seriously interfere with the proper electrolytic
action as the electric current causes objectionable decomposition to take place which
proportionally lessens the useful decomposition which the electrolytic action is to
effect.
My invention has for its object to overcome this objection or to minimize the evil
effects of such leakage or diffusion and this I effect by maintaining the solution in
such an electrolytic cell and on the positive electrode side of the diaphragm thereof
in the chemical condition in which the solution exists at the commencement of
electrolysis.
Taking as an example the production of soda and chlorine by the electrolysis of
chloride of sodium it is one of the conditions of efficient work that the solution in
contact with the positive electrode be as free as possible from caustic soda. It is
the object of the diaphragm to effect this as far as possible but the diaphragm
frequently allows the passage of the soda solution.
According to my invention as applied to the said production of soda and chlorine
from chloride of sodium I add to the solution on the positive electrode side of the
diaphragm free hydrochloric acid which converts the soda into chloride of sodium
or a salt such as manganese chloride in solution which with soda forms chloride of
sodium and insoluble hydrate or basic chloride of manganese. For cells working
with potassium chloride the treatment may be like that explained for sodium
chloride and for bromides of potassium or sodium the corresponding treatment will
be with hydro-bromic acid but the neutralizing of the hydrate and obviation of the
evil effects stated can be accomplished in this case also by using hydrochloric
acid the only difference being a slight admixture of chlorine with the evolved
bromine.
Dated this 5th day of September 1891..
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electrolysis.
I. ERNEST ARTHUR LE SUEUR of Ottawa, Province of Ontario Dominion of
Canada, Electro Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
In electrolytic cells for the double decomposition of solutions of any of the
5 alkaline haloids it is necessary for satisfactory working that the liquid in contact

page_text: with the positive electrode be kept as free as possible from the hydrate or com
pounds thereof of the metal and it is the object of the diaphragm usually employed
to attain this end as far as possible. It frequently happens however that leakage
or diffusion of hydrate takes place through the diaphragm from the negative
electrode side to the positive electrode side such as to seriously interfere with the
proper electrolytic action as the electric current causes objectionable decomposition
to take place which proportionally lessens the useful decomposition which the
electrolytic action is to effect.
My invention has for its object to overcome this objection or to minimize the evil
effects of such leakage or diffusion and this I effect by maintaining the solution in
such an electrolytic cell and on the positive electro side of the diaphragm thereof
in the chemical condition in which the solution exists at the commencement of
electrolysis.
Taking as an example the production of soda and chlorine by the electrolysis of
chloride of sodium it is one of the conditions of efficient work that the solution in
contact with the positive electrode be as free as possible from caustic soda. It is
the object of the diaphragm to effect this as far as possible but the diaphragm
frequently allows the passage of the soda solution.
According to my invention as applied to the said production of soda and chlorine
from chloride of sodium I add to the solution on the positive electrode side of the
diaphragm free hydrochloric acid which converts the soda into chloride of sodium
or a salt such as manganese chloride in solation which with soda forms chloride of
sodium and insoluble hydrate or basic chloride of manganese. For cells working
with potassium chloride the treatment may be like that explained for sodium
chloride and for bromides of potassium or sodium the corresponding treatment will
be with hydro-bromic acid but the neutralizing of the hydrate and obviation of the
evil effects stated can be accomplished in this case also by using hydro-chloric
acid the only difference being a slight admixture of chlorine with the evolved
bromine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :--
First. In the decomposition of the alkaline haloids by electrolysis maintaining
the solution on the positive electrode side of the cell in the chemical condition in
which the solution exists at the commencement of electrolysis substantially as 3
hereinbefore explained.
Second. In the decomposition of the alkaline haloids by electrolysis the addition
to the solution in the positive electrode compartment of the cell, of a substance as
set forth which by its decomposition during the working of the cell prevents the
presence in the said solution of the hydrate of the base substantially as hereinbefore 4
set forth.
Third. In the electrolysis of chloride of sodium the addition to the solution on
the positive electrode side of the cell of hydrochloric acid or a salt of chlorine for
the purpose hereinbefore explained.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.