US4430177A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolytic process using oxygen-depolarized cathodes
Assignee: Dow Chemical Co
•
Filing: 1982-04-22
•
Granted: 1984-02-07
•
Expires: 2002-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A porous, two layer electrode which may be used as an anode or a cathode and a cell using one or more of the electrodes. The electrode is in a pocket shaped configuration with the inner layer having interstitial passageways which are larger in diameter than the diameter of the corresponding interstitial passageways in the outer layer. The layers may be composed of metallic particles. A catalytically active material may be applied to the electrode. The electrodes are particularly useful as oxygen depolarized cathodes in electrolytic processes.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. McIntyre
- 👤 Robert F. Phillips
- 👤 Joseph D. Lefevre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:27
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B11/00; C25B11/04; C25B11/051; C25B11/073; C25B11/075; C25B11/081; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A process for generating halogens and alkali metal hydroxide which comprises electrolyzing an aqueous alkali metal halide between a pair of electrodes separated by an ion exchange membrane or diaphragm, at least one of the electrodes having a first electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough with diameters of from about 7 to about 12 microns and of a size sufficient to permit an oxidizing gas to permeate therethrough, and a second electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough with diameters of from about 0.1 to about 3 microns and of a size sufficient to minimize said oxidizing gas from permeating therethrough, the layers being joined into a wall structure in a manner so that at least a portion of the passageways of the first layer interconnect with the passageways of the second layer; said wall being in the shape of a pocket, wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the pocket is a surface of the first layer and at least a portion of an outer surface of the pocket is a surface of the second layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A process for generating halogens and alkali metal hydroxide which comprises electrolyzing an aqueous alkali metal halide between a pair of electrodes separated by an ion exchange membrane or diaphragm, at least one of the electrodes having a first electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough with diameters of from about 7 to about 12 microns and of a size sufficient to permit an oxidizing gas to permeate therethrough, and a second electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough with diameters of from about 0.1 to about 3 microns and of a size sufficient to minimize said oxidizing gas from permeating therethrough, the layers being joined into a wall structure in a manner so that at least a portion of the passageways of the first layer interconnect with the passageways of the second layer; said wall being in the shape of a pocket, wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the pocket is a surface of the first layer and at least a portion of an outer surface of the pocket is a surface of the second layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the electrolysis is catalyzed by metals above silver in the electroactive series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the electrolysis is catalyzed by silver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal halide is a sodium chloride solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the electrode having the first and second porous layers is an anode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the electrode having the first and second porous layers is a cathode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the oxidizing gas is fed to a portion of the inner surface of the pocket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 or 7 wherein the oxidizing gas is air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 or 7 wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
295 words
A process for generating halogens and alkali metal hydroxide in an electrolytic cell having an anode in an anode compartment, a cathode in a cathode compartment and an anolyte in the anode compartment and a catholyte in the cathode compartment wherein said cathode has a first electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough of a size sufficient to permit an oxidizing gas to permeate therethrough, and a second electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough of a size sufficient to minimize said oxidizing gas from permeating therethrough, the layers being joined into a wall structure in a manner so that at least a portion of the passageways of the first layer interconnect with the passageways of the second layer; said wall being in the shape of a pocket, wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the pocket is a surface of the first layer and at least a portion of an outer surface of the pocket is a surface of the second layer; the process which comprises maintaining an oxidizing gas in contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the pocket causing the oxidizing gas to permeate through at least a portion of the first layer, contacting the catholyte with at least a portion of the outer surface of the pocket whereby the catholyte permeates through at least a portion of the second layer without permeating through the first layer thereby forming an interface between the oxidizing gas and the catholyte, passing a direct current from the anode to the cathode, forming a gaseous halogen at the anode and an alkali metal hydroxide in the cathode compartment, and removing alkali metal hydroxide from the cathode compartment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
295 words
A process for generating halogens and alkali metal hydroxide in an electrolytic cell having an anode in an anode compartment, a cathode in a cathode compartment and an anolyte in the anode compartment and a catholyte in the cathode compartment wherein said cathode has a first electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough of a size sufficient to permit an oxidizing gas to permeate therethrough, and a second electrically conductive, catalytically active porous layer having a plurality of interconnecting passageways therethrough of a size sufficient to minimize said oxidizing gas from permeating therethrough, the layers being joined into a wall structure in a manner so that at least a portion of the passageways of the first layer interconnect with the passageways of the second layer; said wall being in the shape of a pocket, wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the pocket is a surface of the first layer and at least a portion of an outer surface of the pocket is a surface of the second layer; the process which comprises maintaining an oxidizing gas in contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the pocket causing the oxidizing gas to permeate through at least a portion of the first layer, contacting the catholyte with at least a portion of the outer surface of the pocket whereby the catholyte permeates through at least a portion of the second layer without permeating through the first layer thereby forming an interface between the oxidizing gas and the catholyte, passing a direct current from the anode to the cathode, forming a gaseous halogen at the anode and an alkali metal hydroxide in the cathode compartment, and removing alkali metal hydroxide from the cathode compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the electrolysis is catalyzed by metals above silver in the electroactive series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claims 10 wherein the electrolysis is catalyzed by silver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the passageways of the first porous layer have a diameter of from about 7 to about 12 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the passageways of the second porous layer have a diameter of from about 0.1 to about 3 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the anolyte is a sodium chloride solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the oxidizing gas is air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA700933A
Cited
SE688C1
Cited
US832196A
Cited
US2275281A
Cited
US2273795A
Cited
US2681884A
Cited
US3035998A
Cited
US3262868A
Cited
US3238069A
Cited
US3423247A
Cited
US3377265A
Cited
US3708416A
Cited
GB1407452A
Cited
US3861961A
Cited
US3864236A
Cited
US3963592A
Cited
US3923628A
Cited
US3926769A
Cited
US4035255A
Cited
US4035254A
Cited
US4086155A
Cited
US4179350A
Cited
US4197367A
Cited
US4256545A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-06 | 1987-08-08 | 1988-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-06 | 1991-08-08 | 1992-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-06 | 1995-08-08 | 1996-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |