Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corporation

Occidental Chemical Corporation

Cyril J Harke

Jeffrey D Eng

Luciano Mose

Helmuth Schurig

Wilfredo E Figueras

Bernardus Johannes Mentz

Primo Bosa

Monte Dennis Crippen

Tsujihiko Eukunaga

A filter press type electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of brine to produce chlorine and caustic includes a plurality of rectangular frames having U-shaped or channel-shaped walls, the open sides of each of which wall members face inwardly, and a downcomer tube in each frame for conducting product from near the top of the frame to the bottom thereof for withdrawal. The downcomer tubes are located near a framing side but are not within a framing channel. The openings of the framing walls are partially covered by cross members of the same material as the framing to improve the resistance thereof to distortion during closing of the cell. Utilization of the downcomer tubes, preferably of polytetrafluoroethylene for the catholyte compartment and titanium or titanium clad material for the anolyte compartment, allows the maintaining of the framing channel open so that inner walls thereof are electrolytically protected against corrosion. Otherwise, when enclosed or tubular framing members are employed inner wall portions thereof can become corroded after relatively short periods of use. The invention also relates to frames for use in filter press type electrolytic cells and to a method of electrolyzing, wherein such frames and cells may be employed.

Filter press type electrolytic cell and frames for use therein

A technique for affixing anode support rods to the wall of a chlor-alkali type of electrolytic cell, wherein the support rod is positioned and affixed to the cell wall through a welding operation providing a leak proof seal and electrical contact, as well as providing for its easy removal and replacement for maintenance purposes.

Anode support means for an electrolytic cell

A seal for preventing passage of fluid through an opening in an electrolytic cell wall through which a conductor for carrying electricity to or from a cell electrode passes includes as elements thereof a portion of the cell wall opening which is tapered so as to be larger at the outer part of the wall than at the inner part, silicone rubber in the narrower tapered opening part, an electrolyte-resistant rubber, such as neoprene, in the wider tapered opening part and means for pressing such rubber against the silicone rubber so as to help seal the silicone rubber against the tapered cell wall and the conductor. Preferably, the seal is a gas-tight seal and prevents hydrogen from escaping into the atmosphere from the catholyte compartment of an electrolytic cell for the electrolysis of brine. Such a cell is preferably an externally connected (by conductors) bipolar cell but the invention is adaptable for use in sealing off openings in the cell walls between the electrolyte compartments of internally connected bipolar cells and for monopolar electrolytic cells too.

Electrolytic cell seal

A cation-active permselective membrane of a hydrolyzed copolymer of a perfluorinated olefin and a fluorosulfonated perfluorovinyl ether, a modification thereof, or sulfostyrenated perfluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer is employed to dialytically pass metal hydroxide from an aqueous solution thereof containing metal halide halates, thereby purifying the metal hydroxide of the metal halide. The named cation-active permselective membrane materials resist deterioration by the halates, hydroxide and halide components of the solution being purified. The invention also includes a dialysis cell for effecting the purification.

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Burnaby, Canada

Cyril J Harke