Improvements in or relating to Electrolytical Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electrolytical Apparatus.
I, CARL KELLNER, General Manager of The Kellner Partington Paper
Pulp Co. Limited of Hallein, Salzburg, in the Empire of Austria, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to diaphragms specially designed for use in apparatus for
the electrolytical decomposition of alkaline salts. A diaphragm according to this
invention is characterized by having a feeble affinity for the hydroxide of the alkali
formed in the course of the electrolytical process in which it is used, and consequently
of retaining the alkali only in feeble chemical combination, so that the diffusion of
the hydroxide into the space containing the anode or anodes is rendered difficult.
These requirements are complied with by soaps, owing to their property which
they possess of being insoluble in concentrated solutions of alkaline salts, especially
of chlorides of alkalies, whilst at the same time being capable of retaining a small
quantity of free alkali.
It will be most advantageous in the construction of diaphragms to use such soaps
as contain the same alkali as the salt which is to be decomposed, for example, when
decomposing chloride of sodium to use soda soaps, and for chloride of potassium,
potash soaps.
Diaphragms according to this invention can be constructed in various ways.
Thus the soap, moulded in the form of a plate, can be used directly as a
diaphragm; or it can be provided, for the purpose of increasing its firmness, with
an internal skeleton or support of suitable material for example glass wool; or a
stratum or sheet of soap may be fixed between plates or sheets of suitable material
for example asbestos according to the consistence of the soap employed.
Dated this 19th day of April 1894
3
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electrolytical Apparatus.
I, CARL KELLNER, General Manager of The Kellner Partington Paper
Pulp Co. Limited of Hallein, Salzburg, in the Empire of Austria, 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 diaphragms specially designed for use in apparatus for
the electrolytical decomposition of alkaline salts. A diaphragın according to this
invention is characterized by having a feeble affinity for the hydroxide of the
alkali formed in the course of the electrolytical process in which it is used, and
consequently of retaining the alkali only in feeble chemical combination, so that the
diffusion of the hydroxide into the space containing the anode or anodes is rendered
difficult.

page_text: These requirements are complied with by soaps, owing to the property which
they possess of being insoluble in concentrated solutions of alkaline salts, especially
of chlorides of alkalies, whilst at the same time being capable of retaining a small
quantity of free alkali.
It will be most advantageous in the construction of diaphragms to use such soaps
as contain the same alkali as the salt which is to be decomposed, for example, when
decomposing chloride of sodium to use soda soaps, and for chloride of potassium,
potash soaps.
Diaphragms according to this invention can be constructed in various ways.
;
Thus the soap, moulded in the form of a plate, can be used directly as a
diaphragm or it can be provided, for the purpose of increasing its firinness,
with a rigid internal skeleton or support of suitable material or a stratum or
sheet of soap may be fixed between porous or perforated plates or sheets of
suitable material according to the consistence of the soap employed the material
employed in each case for supporting the soap being such as will not be materially
affected by the products of decomposition formed in the course of the electrolytical
decomposition.
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 :-
In apparatus for the electrolytical decomposition of alkaline salts a diaphragm
or diaphragms of soap, or of soap provided with a supporting medium of material
not materially affected by the products of decomposition formed in the course of the
electrolytical process.
Dated this 18th day of January 1895.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.