US4101394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolytic method
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1977-03-04
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Granted: 1978-07-18
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Expires: 1997-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method of reducing the cathodic voltage of an electrolytic cell while electrolytically producing alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and ketones from peroxy bond-containing organic compounds such as peracids, peroxides, hydroperoxides, and derivatives thereof. According to the disclosed method, the peroxy bond-containing organic compound is fed to the catholyte compartment of an electrolytic cell and an aqueous chloride solution, e.g., sodium chloride or hydrochloric acid, is fed to the anolyte chamber of the cell while passing an electrical current from an anode of the cell to a cathode of the cell. Chlorine is recovered as the anodic product of the cell while the reaction products of the peroxy bond-containing organic compound are recovered as cathodic products. Also disclosed is a method of electrolyzing aqueous chloride solutions, e.g., sodium chloride solutions, and hydrochloric acid solutions at a reduced cell voltage. In addition to the steps of feeding the chloride solution to an electrolytic cell, passing an electrical current from an anode of the cell to the cathode of the cell, evolving chlorine on the anode of the cell, and recovering the chlorine gas from the anolyte chamber of the cell, the disclosed method also includes feeding an oxidant to the catholyte chamber of the cell and recovering cathodic reaction products of the oxidant, in addition to water and alkali metal hydroxides, from the catholyte chamber. Disclosed oxidants include organic compounds containing peroxy bonds such as peracids, peroxides, hydroperoxides, and their derivatives where the cathodic reaction products of the oxidant are alcohol, ketone, aldehyde, or acid corresponding to the peroxy-containing organic oxidant.
Inventors
- 👤 Harlan B. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:43
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/24; C25B1/26; C25B3/00; C25B3/01; C25B3/07; C25B3/20; C25B3/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
In a method of electrolyzing an aqueous chloride solution comprising the steps of feeding the solution to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell, imposing an electrical potential across said cell whereby to cause an electrical current to pass from an anode of said cell to a cathode of said cell whereby to evolve chlorine on said anode, and recovering chlorine gas from the anolyte chamber of said cell, the improvement comprising reducing said electrical potential by: feeding a water soluble organic oxidant having a reducible peroxy bond to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress hydrogen evolution at the cathode thereof whereby to reduce the cell voltage at least about 0.3 volt; and recovering the cathodic reaction products of the oxidant from the catholyte chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a method of electrolyzing an aqueous chloride solution comprising the steps of feeding the solution to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell, imposing an electrical potential across said cell whereby to cause an electrical current to pass from an anode of said cell to a cathode of said cell whereby to evolve chlorine on said anode, and recovering chlorine gas from the anolyte chamber of said cell, the improvement comprising reducing said electrical potential by: feeding a water soluble organic oxidant having a reducible peroxy bond to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress hydrogen evolution at the cathode thereof whereby to reduce the cell voltage at least about 0.3 volt; and recovering the cathodic reaction products of the oxidant from the catholyte chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the organic oxidant is chosen from the group consisting of hydroperoxides, dihydroperoxides, peroxides, peroxy acids, and derivatives thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the organic oxidant is a hydroperoxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the organic oxidant is an alkali metal salt of a hydroperoxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous chloride solution is chosen from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 comprising feeding the organic oxidant to an electrolyte permeable cathode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 comprising feeding the organic oxidant to an electrolytic cell having an electrolyte impermeable cathode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a method of electrolyzing an aqueous sodium chloride brine comprising the steps of feeding the brine to an electrolytic cell, imposing an electrical potential across said cell whereby to cause an electrical current to pass from an anode of said cell to a cathode of said cell whereby to evolve chlorine on the anode of said cell, and recovering chlorine gas from an anolyte chamber of said cell and cell liquor containing sodium hydroxide from a catholyte chamber of said cell, the improvement comprising reducing said electrical potential by: feeding a water soluble organic oxidant having a reducible peroxy bond to the catholyte chamber of the cell at a rate sufficient to suppress the formation of hydrogen at said cathode whereby to reduce the cell voltage at least about 0.3 volt; and recovering sodium hydroxide and the cathodic reaction products of the oxidant from the catholyte chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a method of electrolyzing an aqueous sodium chloride brine comprising the steps of feeding the brine to an electrolytic cell, imposing an electrical potential across said cell whereby to cause an electrical current to pass from an anode of said cell to a cathode of said cell whereby to evolve chlorine on the anode of said cell, and recovering chlorine gas from an anolyte chamber of said cell and cell liquor containing sodium hydroxide from a catholyte chamber of said cell, the improvement comprising reducing said electrical potential by: feeding a water soluble organic oxidant having a reducible peroxy bond to the catholyte chamber of the cell at a rate sufficient to suppress the formation of hydrogen at said cathode whereby to reduce the cell voltage at least about 0.3 volt; and recovering sodium hydroxide and the cathodic reaction products of the oxidant from the catholyte chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the organic oxidant is chosen from the group consisting of organic hydroperoxides, organic dihydroperoxides, organic peroxides, organic peroxy acids, and derivatives thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the oxidant is an organic hydroperoxide yielding a water soluble alcohol as a cathodic reaction product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the organic hydroperoxide is chosen from the group consisting of methyl hydroperoxide, ethyl hydroperoxide, n-propyl hydroperoxide, i-propyl hydroperoxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, sec-butyl hydroperoxide, i-butyl hydroperoxide, n-butyl hydroperoxide, t-pentyl hydroperoxide, n-pentyl hydroperoxide, sec-pentyl hydroperoxide, i-pentyl hydroperoxide, neopentyl hydroperoxide, crotyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, ethyl benzene hydroperoxide, and alkali metal salts thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the oxidant is t-butyl hydroperoxide and the cathodic reaction products of the oxidant are t-butyl alcohol, and acetone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 comprising recovering sodium hydroxide, unreacted organic oxidant, and cathodic reaction products of the organic oxidant from the catholyte chamber and thereafter feeding unreacted oxidant to the catholyte chamber of another electrolytic cell.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of producing chlorine and alcohol comprising the steps of: feeding hydrochloric acid to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell; feeding a water soluble organic oxidant having a reducible peroxy bond to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress hydrogen evolution at the cathode; passing an electrical current from an anode of said cell to a cathode of said cell whereby chlorine is evolved at the anode and the organic oxidant is reduced in the catholyte; and recovering chlorine from the anolyte chamber and the reduction products of the organic oxidant from the catholyte chamber.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of producing chlorine and alcohol comprising the steps of: feeding hydrochloric acid to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell; feeding a water soluble organic oxidant having a reducible peroxy bond to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress hydrogen evolution at the cathode; passing an electrical current from an anode of said cell to a cathode of said cell whereby chlorine is evolved at the anode and the organic oxidant is reduced in the catholyte; and recovering chlorine from the anolyte chamber and the reduction products of the organic oxidant from the catholyte chamber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing tertiary butyl alcohol comprising the steps of: feeding an aqueous chloride solution to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell; feeding tertiary butyl hydroperoxide through a porous cathode to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress the formation of hydrogen at the cathode; passing an electrical current from an anode of said cell to said cathode of said cell whereby chlorine is evolved at the anode and tertiary butyl alcohol is formed in the catholyte liquor; and recovering an aqueous catholyte cell liquor containing tertiary butyl alcohol from the catholyte chamber of said cell.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing tertiary butyl alcohol comprising the steps of: feeding an aqueous chloride solution to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell; feeding tertiary butyl hydroperoxide through a porous cathode to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress the formation of hydrogen at the cathode; passing an electrical current from an anode of said cell to said cathode of said cell whereby chlorine is evolved at the anode and tertiary butyl alcohol is formed in the catholyte liquor; and recovering an aqueous catholyte cell liquor containing tertiary butyl alcohol from the catholyte chamber of said cell.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 comprising reacting the tertiary butyl alcohol with an alkyl sulfate whereby to form alkyl tertiary butyl ether.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of producing an alcohol comprising the steps of: feeding an aqueous chloride solution to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell; feeding a soluble organic hydroperoxide to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress the formation of hydrogen at the cathode; passing an electrical current from an anode to said cell to said cathode of said cell whereby chlorine is evolved at the anode and tertiary butyl alcohol is formed in the catholyte liquor; and recovering an aqueous catholyte cell liquor containing alcohol from the catholyte chamber of said cell.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of producing an alcohol comprising the steps of: feeding an aqueous chloride solution to an anolyte chamber of an electrolytic cell; feeding a soluble organic hydroperoxide to a catholyte chamber of said cell at a rate sufficient to suppress the formation of hydrogen at the cathode; passing an electrical current from an anode to said cell to said cathode of said cell whereby chlorine is evolved at the anode and tertiary butyl alcohol is formed in the catholyte liquor; and recovering an aqueous catholyte cell liquor containing alcohol from the catholyte chamber of said cell.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 comprising reacting the alcohol with an alkylating agent whereby to form an alkyl ether of the alcohol.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |