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US4379029A
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Method of measuring metallic cation and water transport numbers for cation exchange hydraulically impermeable membranes and test cell therefor
Assignee: Olin Corp
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Filing: 1981-09-10
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Granted: 1983-04-05
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Expires: 2001-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An electrolytic membrane transport cell adaptable to experimental use for the purpose of accurately measuring simultaneously cation transport and water transport numbers (mol/Faraday) under operating conditions similar to those used in commercial chlor-alkali membrane cells. The cell comprises a pair of half cells each containing a truncated conical chamber adapted to matingly fit together, when abutted at their apexes, and to form a cell, said cell being adapted to hold a permselective membrane which is sealingly supported between said half cells so as to create separate anode and cathode sections, electrode means, heating means, stirring means and electrolyte inlet means. When used in conjunction with radioactive tracer techniques considerable improvements in the accuracy and ease with which transport phenomena can be studied are possible.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard L. Yeager
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/28; G01N27/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An electrochemical membrane test cell comprising: a pair of half cells, each containing a horizontally disposed, inwardly directed, truncated right conical chamber, said cell being formed by joining said half cells at their truncated apexes so that said truncated chambers are aligned and abut each other to form a biconic electrolytic cell; electrode means within each half cell, said means being adapted to be an anode in one of said pair of half cells and a cathode in the other of said pair; permselective membrane means, said membrane being sealingly suspended between said half cells, so that said cell is separated into an anodic and a cathodic compartment; stirring means within each half cell, said means being extended to be close to the surface of said membrane means; heating means within each of said compartments; and electrolyte introduction means within each of said compartments, said cell being adapted to perform electrochemical studies to measure the water and metallic cation transport numbers for said membrane means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An electrochemical membrane test cell comprising: a pair of half cells, each containing a horizontally disposed, inwardly directed, truncated right conical chamber, said cell being formed by joining said half cells at their truncated apexes so that said truncated chambers are aligned and abut each other to form a biconic electrolytic cell; electrode means within each half cell, said means being adapted to be an anode in one of said pair of half cells and a cathode in the other of said pair; permselective membrane means, said membrane being sealingly suspended between said half cells, so that said cell is separated into an anodic and a cathodic compartment; stirring means within each half cell, said means being extended to be close to the surface of said membrane means; heating means within each of said compartments; and electrolyte introduction means within each of said compartments, said cell being adapted to perform electrochemical studies to measure the water and metallic cation transport numbers for said membrane means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said half cells are made from an inert material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inert material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first of said pair of half cells has a cavity in its inner face, said cavity being adapted to receive said membrane means, and the second of said pair of half cells has an extension which is adapted to fit into said cavity and sealingly engage said membrane, said sealing being abetted by an inner gasket adapted to clamp said membrane in place and keep the joined half cells leak tight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said membrane means comprises a membrane made from a perfluorinated polymer having lateral side chains, said side chains selected from the group consisting of carboxylic, sulfonic and phosphonic acid functional groups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said membrane has carboxylic acid functional side groups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said membrane has sulfonic acid functional side groups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrode means is a pair of platinum mesh electrodes, one in each half cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrode means comprises a dimensionally stable anode and a catalytic cathode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cell is adapted to operate with a current density up to 5 KA/m 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cell is adapted to operate with a current density of 2-3 KA/m 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises a cartridge heater and temperature sensing and control means adapted to maintain the temperature of said electrolyte to ±1° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of corrosion resistant container tubes adapted to sealingly engage the wall of said half cell, said tubes being sealed at their innermost ends and being adapted to hold said heater and sensing means and protect them from corrosion damage from said electrolyte.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said heater is adapted to heat said electrolyte to a temperature of up to 100° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cell is adapted to operate with concentrations of chloride or caustic of up to 45% in said electrolyte.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of measuring metallic cation and water transport numbers for cation exchange hydraulically impermeable membranes comprising: forming a cell, said cell comprising two half cells, each of said half cells containing an internal horizontally disposed, inwardly directed, truncated right conical inner chamber, said cell being formed by joining said half cells at their truncated apexes so that said truncated chambers are aligned and abut each other to form a biconic electrolytic cell, said half cells having one of said membranes sealingly suspended therebetween to form an anode and a cathode compartment, each of said compartments having electrode means, heating means, sensing means, stirring means and electrolyte introduction means; filling said anode and cathode compartments with anolyte and catholyte solutions and heating said solutions to equilibrate said membrane at a preselected test temperature; removing said solutions and replacing them with weighed portions of the same solutions; adding a measured amount of radioactive tracer material to said anolyte solution; heating and stirring said solutions to achieve a uniform concentration of said anolyte and tracer; energizing said electrode means to electrolyze said solutions for a period of time, said electrolysis producing a transfer of said tracer material through said membrane into said cathode compartment; at the conclusion of said electrolysis period, measuring the quantity of tracer which has passed through said membrane; and measuring the net change in the water content of the electrolyte in each compartment, said quantities being indicative of the moles of metallic cation and water which have been transferred.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of measuring metallic cation and water transport numbers for cation exchange hydraulically impermeable membranes comprising: forming a cell, said cell comprising two half cells, each of said half cells containing an internal horizontally disposed, inwardly directed, truncated right conical inner chamber, said cell being formed by joining said half cells at their truncated apexes so that said truncated chambers are aligned and abut each other to form a biconic electrolytic cell, said half cells having one of said membranes sealingly suspended therebetween to form an anode and a cathode compartment, each of said compartments having electrode means, heating means, sensing means, stirring means and electrolyte introduction means; filling said anode and cathode compartments with anolyte and catholyte solutions and heating said solutions to equilibrate said membrane at a preselected test temperature; removing said solutions and replacing them with weighed portions of the same solutions; adding a measured amount of radioactive tracer material to said anolyte solution; heating and stirring said solutions to achieve a uniform concentration of said anolyte and tracer; energizing said electrode means to electrolyze said solutions for a period of time, said electrolysis producing a transfer of said tracer material through said membrane into said cathode compartment; at the conclusion of said electrolysis period, measuring the quantity of tracer which has passed through said membrane; and measuring the net change in the water content of the electrolyte in each compartment, said quantities being indicative of the moles of metallic cation and water which have been transferred.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising adding weighed drying tubes to the inlet means of said half cells, said drying tubes acting to capture any water evaporated during said electrolysis period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of: taking a sample of said anolyte solution prior to the introduction of said tracer and analyzing it for anion content; taking samples of said anolyte and catholyte solutions after said tracer has been added and counting them for initial levels of activity before electrolysis has begun; after electrolysis is complete, removing said anolyte and catholyte solutions from said cell, transferring them to preweighed containers and weighing them; measuring the cation content and final tracer activity of said catholyte solution; recounting said unelectrolyzed anolyte sample to establish the level of tracer decay; and reweighing said drying tubes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said tracer element is sodium-22.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said electrolyzing is performed at a current density of up to 5 KA/m 2 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said electrolyzing is performed at a current density of 2-3 KA/m 2 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said electrolyte is heated up to about 100° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said heating is controlled to ±1° C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4090924A
Cited
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-04 | 1986-10-04 | 1987-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-04 | 1990-10-04 | 1991-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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