Method and apparatus for determining composition of molten salt mixtures

Claim 1

FOR USE WITH A MOLTEN SALT MIXTURE INCLUDING A SALT OF AN ALKALI METAL AND A SALT OF A MORE NOBLE METAL, WHEREIN THE CONCENTRATION OF SAID MORE NOBLE METAL SALT IS EQUAL TO AT LEAST ABOUT 10 MOL PERCENT, IN A METHOD OF DETERMINING CHANGES IN CONCENTRATION OF SAID MORE NOBLE METAL SALT IN SAID MIXTURE, THE STEPS OF (A) SUCCESSIVELY INTERPOSING A PLURALITY OF SAMPLES OF SAID MIXTURE VARYING IN CONCENTRATION OF SAID MORE NOBLE METAL SALT BETWEEN AND ELECTRODE FABRICATED OF SAID MORE NOBLE METAL AND ONE SIDE OF A GLASS MEMBRANE PERMEABLE TO IONS OF SAID ALKALI METAL, WHILE (B) PROVIDING A SECOND ELECTRODE IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID MEMBRANE, TO CONSTITUTE A CELL COMPRISING SAID ELECTRODES, SAID SECOND ELECTRODE BEING ARRANGED FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE SUCCESSIVELY INTERPOSED SAMPLES OF SAID MIXTURE BY TRANSPORT OF SAID ALKAI METAL IONS THROUGH THE GLASS MEMBRANE, SAID MEMBRANE AND SECOND ELECTRODE BEING ARRANGED TO MAINTAIN SAID MEMBRANE AND SECOND ELECTRODE IN EQUILIBRIUM RESPECTING SAID ALKAI METAL IONS WHILE PERMITTING REVERSIBLE TRANSPORT OF SAID ALAKI IONS THROUGH THE MEMBRANE, AND (C) MAKING SUCCESSIVE MEASUREMENTS OF THE DIFFERENCE OF POTENTIAL BETWEEN THE ELECTRODES, AT AN ASCERTAINED TEMPERATURE, WHILE SAID SAMPLES OF MIXTURE ARE SUCCESSIVELY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST-MENTIONED ELECTRODE AND SAID GLASS MEMBRANE.