Improvements in Electrolysis.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrolysis.
I, HENRY BLUMENBERG, Junior, of South Mount Vernon, Westchester County,
New York, in the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to obtain, by electrolytic action, bromates and
chlorates from the alkaline metals and the metals of the alkaline earths.
In carrying my process into effect I prepare an aqueous solution containing a
bromide or chloride, which is placed in a vat, having a porous partition dividing it
into the usual positive and negative compartments. An electric battery is
connected with the anode and the cathode, and the circuit closed through the
aqueous solution therein. The positive compartment is fitted with an airtight top.
The basic radicals, such as potassium are set free in the negative compartment and
the halogen or acid radicals, such as chlorine, in the positive compartiment.
A pipe connects the upper part of the positive compartment with the lower part
of the negative compartment and is provided with valves. A pipe provided with a
valve leads from the negative compartment to a vessel for holding the settled
bromates and chlorates. A vat is provided for holding the residue of the process
and is connected with the said vessel by a pipe having a valve through which the
latter may be tapped when desired. A re-saturating tank is in connection with the
residue vat by a pipe and pump, whereby the residue may be re-utilized. A pipe
connects the resaturator with the positive compartment and also with the negative
compartment through a pipe all having valves.
Upon electrolyzing an electrolyte having, in a solution of water, say potassic
chloride, the halogen or acid radical chlorine goes to the positive compartment and
the potash to the negative compartment decomposing the water there, and forming
caustic potash. As the positive compartment is airtight the chlorine liberated
therein rises and passes through the pipe connecting the two compartments decom-
posing the caustic solution in the negative compartment forming chlorate and
chloride of potash. The product and bi-product are gathered in the vessel
provided for that purpose the former settling therein, and the bi-product being
drawn off into the residue vat. The pump raises the bi-product into the resaturator
containing potassic chloride, and resaturates the once used electrolyte. Upon
opening the valve in the pipe which connects the resaturator with the positive
compartment the bi-product is again carried to the residue vat into either or both
the compartments and the process repeated.
If the nascent hydrogen reduces in the electro-negative compartment the
electrode therein may be agitated to prevent such action. That is to say any
excess of hydrogen will have a tendency to polarize the negative electrode, which
tendency is obviated by agitating that electrode. Otherwise that part of the
electric current employed in electrolyzing would then be trying to overcome this
state of polarization, and would show itself in an undue rise of the temperature of
120° Fahrenheit in the bath. Then again hydrogen must be got rid of to a certain
extent to prevent its combining with the chlorine, and thereby forming hydrochloric
acid, which would react upon the hydrate of potassium till they would be mutually
neutralized, forming again the chloride of potassium.
The electric current needs only to have its voltage high enough to overcome the

page_text: affinities of the halogen for the base. The bi-product varies according to the
original substance put into the vat. If chloride of potassium be the material to
produce the desired chlorate the bi-product is then chloride of potassium, caustic
potash water, chlorine gas, hydrochloric acid, a little chlorate of potash, and a
percentage of the original impurities which the original chloride of potassium
contained before putting the same into the vat.
I prefer to have the bath at a temperature of 120° Fahrenheit in order that the
hypochlorite formed shall be resolved into chlorate of potassium.
Dated the 8th day of May 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
I, HENRY BLUMENBERG, Junior, Gentleman, Citizen of the United States of
America, residing at South Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, 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: :-
The object of my invention is to obtain by electrolytic action, bromates and
chlorates from the alkaline metals and the metals of the alkaline earths from their
respective bromides and chlorides.
Generally stated, in carrying my process into effect, I prepare an aqueous
solution containing a bromide or chloride corresponding to the chlorate or bromate
desired.
For this purpose a vat is used, such as shown in Fig. 1 for example. This vat
is usually divided into two compartments by a porous partition, or instead a porous
vessel may be placed therein-in either case the vat being divided into two
compartments.
An electric battery with the opposite wires leading to electrodes placed in the
compartments of the vat is provided, the circuit being closed through the aqueous
solution therein. The bases are set free in the electro-negative compartment, and
the halogen in the electro-positive division.
If the nascent hydrogen reduces in the electro-negative compartment the
electrode therein may be agitated to prevent such action-that is to say, any
excess of hydrogen will have a tendency to polarize the negative electrode which
tendency is obviated by agitating that electrode. Otherwise that part of the
electric current employed in electrolysing would then be trying to overcome this
state of polarization; and would show itself in an undue rise of the 120° Fahrenheit
in the vat. Then again hydrogen must be gotten rid of to a certain extent to
prevent its combining with the chlorine, and thereby forming hydrochloric acid,
which would react upon the hydrate of potassium till they would be mutually
neutralized forming again the chloride of potassium.
In exemplification of my invention we will place in the vat a potassic chloride.
The electric current separates it into its respective halogen and base. The potassium
in this case being the base, will be deposited in the electro-negative compartment,
where it takes up one atom of oxygen from the electrolyte and also sets free one
atom of hydrogen, forming caustic potash.
Referring to the drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrolytic bath to which I have applied my
improvements.

page_text: Fig. 4 18 anagrammatic view embodying my improved process.
A represents the vat.
B is the porous partition dividing the vat into the usual positive and negative
compartments.
C is the negative electrode, such as cobalt, platinum iron, carbon, nickel, or
other suitable material.
D is the positive electrode, preferably platinum.
E is the positive and F the negative compartment.
The electro-positive division E is covered by a top G fitting air-tight thereon.
The upper portion of compartment E contains halogen or acid radicals set free
during electrolysis.
Compartiment F contains the electro-negative caustic solution or basic radicals.
H is a pipe leading from the upper part of the electro-positive division to the
lower part of the electro-negative division, preferably outside the vat, A, and
provided with valve I at either end, for closing or opening the pipe..
J is the positive wire, having a branch K leading to the electrode D, and L the
negative wire having a branch M leading to the electrode C from any suitable
battery.
In Fig. 2 is shown a pipe N, having a valve O therein leading from the electro-
negative tank F by means of which the tank F may be discharged into the vessel P
below.
Vessel P is designed to receive and hold the bromates and chlorates, in which
they may be allowed to settle.
Qis a vat for holding the residue of the process. R is a pipe, having a valve S
therein, through which the vessel P may be tapped to draw off the material other
than the bromates and chlorates.
T is a resaturating tank having connections with the bottom of vat Q by a
pipe U, in which is placed a pump V for forcing the residue with water up into
said resaturator to utilize the product over again.
W is a pipe, having a valve X, leading from the resaturator near its top, back
into the electro-positive compartment E.
The resaturator T contains material to make the product.
The following operation of my improvements will be described; An electrolyte
having, in a solution of water, say potassic chloride, is put in the vat A. I then
electrolyse the same. The halogen or acid radical chlorine goes to the electro-
positive division, the potash to the electro-negative division decomposing the water
there and forming caustic potash. The electro positive division E, being air-tight,
as soon as the chlorine is liberated it rises in the air above the electrolyte, goes
through the pipe H, and decomposes the caustic solution in the electro-negative
division F, forming chlorate and chloride of potash.
In Fig. 2 the product and bi-product are gathered in vessel P. Here the
product settles in the bottom of the vessel P. and the bi-products are let through
pipe R into the receiving vat Q. The pump V pumps the bi-products through
pipe U into the resaturator T which contains potassic chloride and resaturates the
once used electrolyte. Then if valve X is opened in pipe W the bi-products are
carried to vat A and the process is carried over again.
8 is a pipe, having the valve 9, tapping the compartment F and the pipe W, by
means of which the bi-products may be led into both compartments E and F.
The electric current needs only to have its voltage high enough to overcome the
affinities of the halogen for the base.
The bi-product varies according to the original substance put into the vat. If
chloride of potassium be the material to produce the desired chlorate the bi-product
is then chloride of potassium, caustic potash water, chlorine gas, hydrochloric acid,
a little chlorate of potash, and a percentage of the original impurities which the
original chloride of potassium contained before putting the same in the vat.
I prefer to have the bath at a temperature of 120° Fahrenheit in order that the
hypochlorite formed will be resolved into chlorate and chloride of potassium.

page_text: 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. The combination of an electrolytic bath having positive and negative com-
partments, a pipe connecting the two, a settling tank connected with said bath,
another tank located between the settling tank and bath, and pipes connecting them
into a continuous system.
2. The herein described process which consists in placing an electrolyte con-
taining a haloid salt in a vat electrolysing the same thereby setting free the
halogen at the positive electrode, and the base at the negative electrode, and
finally transferring the liberated gas from the positive to the negative electrode,
and thereby bringing it into contact with the base.
3. The herein described process which consists in placing an electrolyte con-
taining a haloid salt in a vat, then electrolysing the same, thereby setting free the
halogen at the positive electrode and the base at the negative electrode, trans-
ferring the liberated gas from the positive to the negative electrode, then conveying
the liquid electrolyte to a settling tank, and then leading the bi-products of the
electrolyte to a resaturator and back to the vat.
Dated the 15th day of November 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.