Improvements relating to the Electrolytic Preparation of Oxygen and the Halogens, and to the Simultaneous Production of Electrodes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1894-Accepted,. 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Electrolytic Preparation of Oxygen
and the Halogens, and to the Simultaneous Production of
Electrodes.
.
I, Dr. ALFRED COEN, of 1 Händelstrasse, Berlin, N.W., in the Empire of
Germany, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the electrolytic preparation of oxygen and the halogens, there is an
unavoidable amount of work done in decomposing the electrolyte at the cathode,
which work is generally wasted. A process has been devised whereby this work
can be usefully employed in the formation of marketable products.
The said process is equally applicable whether the electrolyte be acid, alkaline
or neutral, it being only necessary that hydrogen should be produced at the
cathode.
Let us now consider cases in which the electrolyte is produced either directly
from acids or indirectly from metallic combinations, the metals of which in their
nascent state decompose the solvent thereby evolving hydrogen.
In carrying out the said process, I place in the electrolytic bath an anode
composed of a material which cannot be attacked by oxygen or the halogens, such
for example as carbon; and opposite thereto a cathode which has the power of
absorbing hydrogen. Negative accumulator plates work advantageously as
cathodes. These absorb the evolved hydrogen as in their usual accumulator
charge until they reach a saturation limit which is indicated by a violent ebullition
of free hydrogen. The plate is then ready to serve as the electrode of a battery,
the setting up of which is meanwhile incomplete, and in which it can be joined up
with suitable materials. A battery of the same type as the Daniell's cell may be
taken as an example, the hydrogen-occluded lead representing the zinc, the copper
being placed opposite thereto in sulphate of copper and separated therefrom by a
suitable diaphragm. The said plates can also be employed in a one-fluid cell;
in that case the hydrogen-occluded lead is arranged alternately with carbon or
copper, for example, both electrodes being immersed in dilute sulphuric acid.
Polarization can be prevented in this cell by constant circulation of the sulphuric
acid or by blowing air through the same. The cell, set up as above mentioned,
can be employed for generating current for the production of oxygen or the
halogens in a distant electrolyte where cathodes may be again used to take up the
hydrogen or it may be employed for other purposes.
11002
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Electrolytic Preparation of Oxygen
and the Halogens, and to the Simultaneous Production of
Electrodes.
I, Dr. ALFRED COEHN, of 14 Händelstrasse, Berlin, N.W., in the Empire of
Germany, Chemist, 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:-
In the electrolytic preparation of oxygen and the halogens, there is an
unavoidable amount of work done in decomposing the electrolyte at the cathode,
which work is generally wasted. A process has been devised whereby this work
can be usefully employed in the formation of marketable products.
The said process is equally applicable whether the electrolyte be acid, alkaline
or neutral, it being only necessary that hydrogen should be produced at the
cathode, either directly from an acid or indirectly from metallic combinations
the metals of which in their nascent state decompose the solvent thereby evolving
hydrogen.
In carrying out the said process, I place in the electrolytic bath an anode
composed of a material which cannot be attacked by oxygen or the halogens,
such for example as carbon; and opposite thereto a cathode which has the power
of absorbing hydrogen. Negative accumulator plates work advantageously as
cathodes. These absorb the evolved hydrogen as in their usual accumulator
charge until they reach a saturation limit which is indicated by a violent ebullition
of free hydrogen. The plate is then ready to serve as the electrode of a battery,
the setting up of which is to be adapted or accommodated to the existing
requirements and to the materials at hand. A battery of the same type as the
Daniell's cell may be taken as an example, the hydrogen-charged lead representing
the zinc, the copper being placed opposite thereto in sulphate of copper and
separated therefrom by a suitable diaphragm. The said plates can also be
employed in a one-fluid cell; in that case the hydrogen-charged lead is arranged
opposite to an electric conductor, for example, opposite to carbon or copper, both
electrodes being immersed in diluate sulphuric acid. Polarization can be prevented
in this cell by constant circulation of the sulphuric acid or by blowing air through
the same. The cells set up as above mentioned, can be employed as generators of
electric current for a further electrolysis in order to produce oxygen or the halogens
thereby cathodes taking up hydrogen may be again employed.
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 :-
First. The improved process for the electrolytic production of oxygen and the
halogens, characterized by the employment of a cathode capable of taking up
hydrogen, which cathode may be formed of metal, so that the electrode thus
produced can be afterwards employed in the generation of current in primary or
secondary batteries.
Second. An electrode produced in the manner substantially as hereinbefore
described and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 5th day of September 1894.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.