Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of aqueous solutions to produce gaseous products which comprises a housing, a separator traversing said housing to form an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, an anode in said anode compartment adjacent to said separator, a cathode in said cathode compartment adjacent to said separator, means for introducing an electrolyte into and removing said electrolyte from said anode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said anode compartment, means for introducing a liquid into and removing a liquid from said cathode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said cathode compartment, means for supplying electrical current to said anode and said cathode, at least one of said anode and said cathode comprising a porous electrode having a porosity in the range of from about 30 to about 98 percent, said porous electrode having a first portion in direct contact with said separator and a second portion spaced apart by an angle of inclination from said separator, said second portion being closer to said outlets for gaseous products than said first portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of aqueous solutions to produce gaseous products which comprises a housing, a separator traversing said housing to form an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, an anode in said anode compartment adjacent to said separator, a cathode in said cathode compartment adjacent to said separator, means for introducing an electrolyte into and removing said electrolyte from said anode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said anode compartment, means for introducing a liquid into and removing a liquid from said cathode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said cathode compartment, means for supplying electrical current to said anode and said cathode, at least one of said anode and said cathode comprising a porous electrode having a porosity in the range of from about 30 to about 98 percent, said porous electrode having a first portion in direct contact with said separator and a second portion spaced apart by an angle of inclination from said separator, said second portion being closer to said outlets for gaseous products than said first portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 1 in which said separator is selected from the group consisting of hydraulically permeable diaphragms and hydraulically impermeable ion exchange members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 2 in which compression means are employed to maintain said first portion in contact with said separator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 3 in which said first portion is from about 5 to about 50 percent of the length of said porous electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 4 in which said separator is a hydraulically impermeable cation exchange membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 5 in which said porous electrode has a porosity of from about 70 to about 98 percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 6 in which said porous electrode is a reticulate electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 7 in which said reticulate electrode is a cathode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 7 in which said reticulate electrode is an anode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 1 in which said anode and said cathode are porous electrodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 2 in which said separator is positioned vertically within said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 11 in which the angle of inclination between the separator and the second portion of said porous electrode is from about 2 to about 8 degrees.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 12 having a plurality of porous electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrolytic cell of claim 13 in which said porous electrodes are reticulate electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process for the electrolysis of an aqueous alkali metal chloride solution employing the electrolytic cell of claim 1, said process comprising applying electrolysis current between anode and cathode to produce chlorine and alkali metal hydroxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
174 words
An electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of aqueous solutions to produce gaseous products which comprises a housing, a separator positioned vertically in said housing to form an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, an anode in said anode compartment adjacent to said separator, a cathode in said cathode compartment adjacent to said separator, means for introducing an electrolyte into and removing said electrolyte from said anode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said anode compartment, means for introducing a liquid into and removing a liquid from said cathode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said cathode compartment, means for supplying electrical current to said anode and said cathode, at least one of said anode and said cathode comprising a porous electrode having a porosity in the range of from about 30 to about 98 percent, said porous electrode having a first lower portion in direct contact with said separator and a second upper portion spaced apart from said separator to provide a fluid release zone between said separator and said second portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
174 words
An electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of aqueous solutions to produce gaseous products which comprises a housing, a separator positioned vertically in said housing to form an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, an anode in said anode compartment adjacent to said separator, a cathode in said cathode compartment adjacent to said separator, means for introducing an electrolyte into and removing said electrolyte from said anode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said anode compartment, means for introducing a liquid into and removing a liquid from said cathode compartment, an outlet for gaseous products in said cathode compartment, means for supplying electrical current to said anode and said cathode, at least one of said anode and said cathode comprising a porous electrode having a porosity in the range of from about 30 to about 98 percent, said porous electrode having a first lower portion in direct contact with said separator and a second upper portion spaced apart from said separator to provide a fluid release zone between said separator and said second portion.