Improvements in Electrolysis.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrolysis.
EMILE ANDREOLI 18 Somerleyton Road Brixton Journalist 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 aud by the following
statement:
This invention refers to a new process, and apparatus for decomposing by
electrolysis, solutions of salts such as chlorides, sulphates, etc, and for separating
efficiently, and economically the constituent parts of such compounds by means of
porous conducting partitions acting as cathodes. The process applies also to two
different inorganic, or organic solutions, euch in a separate compartment, one of
which combines by electrolysis with one of the constituent parts of the other
solution, for instance by sending its alkali, and its hydrogen into the negative
compartment to act on the solution, or inversely some constituent parts of the
cathode compound may be sent by electrolysis into the solution of the positive
compartment. By way of illustration, I will describe, first, the electrolytic
decomposition of a chloride of sodium solution. Second, the electrolysis of a
chloride solution in the positive compartment, and of an alcoholic liquid in the
negative compartment. To carry out the electrolysis of a solution of chloride of
sodium, which I have taken as an example, I use the following apparatus, which is
shown in the accompanying drawing. The electrolytic apparatus cousists of two
tanks A, and B, one of them being so to say suspended inside the other. The
outer tank A is made of iron, or other metal, which will not be corroded by the
solution. It is connected to the negative pole of the source of electric power, and
is also connected by means of a convenient wire cable or shunt contact with the
inner tank B. B is made of plates of very porous carbon, which are joined
one to the other by some known means. To make it watertight it rests on
supports so that it is immersed in the liquor in A; it also acts as a cathade.
These two tanks may be of any shape, but I prefer them to be of a long, and
narrow rectangular shape, so as to diminish the resistance of the liquid. C. C. Care
the anodes either of carbon, platinum, or other material not readily attacked
by oxygen, or chlorine. The cross bars holding them up are kept insulated from
the edges of A, and B on which they rest. The space between A, and B is filled
with pieces of carbon, or coke, or scrap iron, or other metal, unattacked by the
solution which in this case, is caustic soda. By this means, I increase considerably
the surface, and I facilitate the electrolytic operation. Instead of carbon, or
metallic scrap, I can put plates, or gauzes, or grids of iron, or other metal,
unattacked by the solution and which act as additional cathades.. D is a tap by
which the liquor is drawn off from A when it has acquired the requisite strength.
E is a pipe by which the chlorinated liquor is drawn off from inside B. The level
is kept constant with chloride of sodium solution from the supply tank. This
chloride of sodium solution varies in density with the object I have in view. This
electrolytic apparatus is worked in different manners, according to the result I
wish to obtain. Another illustration of the application of this invention is that I
may have a different liquid in each compartment, one of which is decomposed at
the anode with separation of some of its constituent parts which goes into the
cathode compartment where it acts on, or unites with the second liquid. For
instance I may have in the cathade chambers some raw spirits, containing
impurities, and aldehydes or phlegms, which, under the influence of alkali, and
hydrogen may be considerably improved. If I have a chloride of sodium solution
in the positive chamber, the caustic soda resulting from its decomposition will be
sent by the current on the metallic cathade, while the addition of hydrogen to the

page_text: aldehydes contained in the spirit will convert them into alcohol. In this way I
produce chlorine in the annode compartment, and I purify spirit in the cathode
chamber under the influence of caustic soda, and hydrogen produced by the
decomposition of the chloride of sodium solution, when I electrolyse two different
liquids in the positive, and negative compartments, I avoid in the following
manner their mixture by percolation through the porous conducting diaphragm, as
for instance in the case of a chloride of sodium solution, and of alcohol, or of any
other solutions. I first endeavour to give them, as much as possible the same
density, and moreover secondly I cause each liquid to pass through, and escape
from its respective compartment at an equal speed with the other, so that an equal
volume of each liquor enters the electrolytic tank, and leaves it immediately,
either to return to its compartment by means of a pump, or pumps, G, and G', or
to pass through one, two, or more electrolytic tanks, in which they are submitted
again to the electric current, until the operation is at an end. This constant
flowing of the two electrolytes prevents their diffusion; no alcohol mixes by
osmose with the chloride solution in the anode compartment, and no chloride
contaminates the alcohol in the cathode compartment. I do not confine myself to
any condition of temperature, or pressure as each class of compounds may require
a special treatment according to the object of the electrolysis. It must be
understood that the conducting porous partitions which I use as cathodes may be
of any shape.
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
1. In the decomposition of electrolytes, and the separation of their constituent
parts, as in the aforesaid example of the electrolysis of a chloride of sodium solution.
The combination with an outer iron tank acting as cathode of an inner tank made
of porous conductive substance, acting also as cathade for the purpose herein before
set forth.
2. The combination with the two aforesaid cathade tanks in the space between
them, plates, gauze, grids acting also as cathodes, or of broken carbon, or coke, or of
scrap iron for the purposes hereinbefore specified.
3. The use of platinum, or carbon anodes in the inner tank.
4. The electrolysis of two different liquids, the constituent parts of which
combine as above described.
5. The use of the above described process, and apparatus for the electrolytic
treatment of two different liquid compounds either organic, or inorganic in the
positive, and negative compartments respectively, and their combination, and
industrial application for all desirable purposes.
6. The electrolytic process, and apparatus substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, or any modification
thereof.
Dated this 28th day of October 1891.
H. T. TALLACK,
28, Hatton Garden, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.