Kernforschungsanlage Julich Gesellschaft MIT Beschrankter Haftung

Heinrich Schmitz

Jiri Divisek

Bertel Kastening

Bernd D Struck

Renke Hesse

A porous oxide diaphragm for alkaline electrolysis, in particular water etrolysis, consisting of an in situ oxidized metal powder layer applied onto a permeable framework-forming carrier without heat treatment before oxidation, as well as a process for the manufacture thereof and its utilization.

Porous oxide diaphragm for alkaline electrolyses, and manufacture thereof

Particles of electrically conducting activated carbon of about 500 to 1,000 m.sup.2 /g specific surface added to an electrolyte provided by a solution of sulfur dioxide in water are found to provide a substantial reduction of the electrical energy requirement in the electrolysis of such an electrolyte for the production of hydrogen and sulfuric acid. A further reduction of energy consumption is obtained by additionally introducing iodine in the electrolyte in an amount not exceeding 1% by weight of the entire solution. Use of an anode in which the surface of a graphite base body is coated with a thin layer of activated carbon bonded to the graphite body by means of a binder, such as rubber, also reduces the electrical energy requirement for the electrolysis. To coat the surface of the electrode, carbon particles are first dispersed in a rubber solution and the suspension is then applied to the surface of the graphite body as a thin layer.

Process for the electrolysis of sulfur dioxide solutions

A method of and electrolytic cell for making hydrogen peroxide, according which oxygen is introduced into an electrolyte solution which contains in dissolved form an organic compound forming a redox system. After reduction of the oxidized form of the organic compound on the cathode of the electrolytic cell, which preferably has a cathode of glass-like carbon or graphite, and which is passed through by the current and after formation of the reduced form of the organic compound, the oxygen introduced into the electrolyte solution is reduced by reaction with the thus obtained reduced form of the organic compound. With a simultaneous re-formation of the oxidized form of the organic compound, peroxide is formed whereupon there is introduced into the electrolyte solution for separating the formed peroxide such a quantity of an alkaline earth metal compound that the peroxide is precipitated as alkaline earth metal peroxide and the precipitated alkaline earth metal peroxide is filtered off and withdrawn from the electrolyte solution, whereupon it is suspended in water, and acid is introduced into the thus formed suspension so that by reaction of the alkaline-peroxide with the acid hydrogen peroxide is formed.

Growing community of inventors

Julich, Germany

Heinrich Schmitz