Electrolysis method and apparatus employing a novel diaphragm

Claim 1

AN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT ELECTROLYSIS IN WHICH IT IS DESIRED TO KEEP TWO PORTIONS OF THE ELECTROLYTE SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATED YET ALLOW IONS TO MIGRATE TO THE ELECTRODES, COMPRISING AN ION PERMEABLE, ELECTROLYTE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERMEABLE DIAPHRAGM OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TITANIUM AND ALLOYS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF TITANIUM, SAID DIAPHRAGM HAVING PORES THERETHROUGH AND HAVING A COATING OF A NOBLE METAL ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING A BARRIER LAYER OF TITANIUM OXIDE ON THE UNCOATED PARTS OF SAID DIAPHRAGM, A CATHODE SPACED FROM THE UNCOATED SIDE OF SAID DIAPHRAGM, A CONTAINER FOR ELECTROLYTE IN WHICH SAID DIAPHRAGM AND CATHODE ARE MOUNTED, AND CURRENT SUPPLY MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID DIAPHRAGM AND TO SAID CATHODE FOR PASSING CURRENT FROM SAID DIAPHRAGM TO SAID CATHODE, SAID DIAPHRAGM COATING ACTING AS AN ANODE, SAID DIAPHRAGM KEEPING THE TWO PORTIONS OF THE ELECTROLYTE SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATE AND ALLOWING PASSAGE OF IONS THROUGH SAID PORES WHEN SAID DIAPHRAGM COATING IS CONNECTED AS AN ANODE.