Improvements in the Manufacture of Salts of the Oxyhalogen Acids such as Chlorates and Hypochlorites and the Like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov.,
1899
Improvements in the Manufacture of Salts of the Oxyhalogen Acids
such as Chlorates and Hypochlorites and the Like.
We, PAUL IMHOFF, Ph. D., Chemist, and THE UNITED ALKALI COMPANY, LIMITED,
both of 30, James Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of salts of the oxyhalogen acids (such as hypochlorites,
chlorates and the like) by the electrolysis of an alkaline chloride, or alkaline earth
chloride, or magnesium chloride, in alkaline solution, in cells, with, or without,
diaphragms, secondary reactions leading to undesirable results are liable to occur.
The object of the present invention is to obtain improved yields by working in
such a manner that these secondary reactions are considerably reduced.
According to this invention there is added to the solution of alkaline chloride sub-
mitted to electrolysis sodium phosphate or a body belonging to these oxides which
are capable of either basic, or acid, reaction according to the nature of the substances
with which they are in contact. Such bodies are Al2O3, B₂O, SiO2, and the like and
the manner in which they act is shewn by the following equations, taking for example
potassium chloride and aluminium oxide :-
Improvements in the Manufacture of Salts of the Oxyhalogen Acids
such as Chlorates and Hypochlorites and the Like.
We, PAUL IMHOFF, Ph. D., Chemist, and THE UNITED ALKALI COMPANY, LIMITED,
both of 30, James Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
rn 077

page_text: In the manufacture of salts of the oxyhalogen acids (such as hypochlorites,
chlorates, and the like) by the electrolysis of an alkaline chloride, or alkaliue earth
chloride, or a mixture of either, or both, of these with magnesium chloride, in
alkaline solution, in cells, with, or without, diaphragmns, secondary reactions, leading
to undesirable results, are liable to occur.
The object of the present invention is to obtain improved yields by working in
such a manner that these secondary reactions are considerably reduced.
According to this invention there is added to the solution of alkaline chloride
submitted to electrolysis, sodium phosphates, or a body belonging to those oxides
which are capable of either basic, or acid, reaction, acccording to the nature of the
substances with which they are in contact. Such bodies are AlО, BO, SiO, and
the like, and the manner in which they act is shewn by the following equations,
taking for example potassium chloride and aluminium oxide :-
Cathode 2 KOH + Al, O
Anode:
2 KAIO, + Cĺ₂ =
апопе
Cathoue
= 2 KAIO, + H₂O
KCl + KCO + A₁₂ 03
It is thus evident that the particular oxide added is being continuously absorbed
by the caustic alkali present and regenerated from the compound so formed by
subsequent action of the chlorine, and, therefore, the amount of the oxide added need
be but small.
If sodium phosphate be used it acts a very similar part to that of the oxides above
named the alkaline chloride being first split up by the current and chlorine and
caustic alkali formed. The chlorine reacts on the phosphate forming chloride,
hypochlorite, and an acid phosphate which, in the presence of the free alkali formed
as hereinbefore described, becomes reconverted to its original form. It is of course
understood that in mentioning sodium phosphate its equivalent in this connection,
potassium phosphate, is included.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
-
In the manufacture of salts of the oxyhalogen acids, such as hypochlorites,
chlorates, and the like, by the electrolysis of an alkaline chloride, or alkaline earth
chloride, or a mixture of either, or both, of these with magnesium chloride in alka-
line solution, the addition to the electrolyte of a phosphate, or a body belonging to
those oxides which are capable of either basic, or acid, reaction; substantially as, and
for the purpose, hereinbefore described.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.