National Research Development Corporation

Martin Fleischmann

Francis Goodridge

Raymond E Plimley

John R Backhurst

Rodney J Marshall

Christopher J King

Robert E Jansson

Christopher J Vance

An extended surface area electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided by causing a bed of conducting particles to be expanded in the form of a fluidized bed by controlled upward flow of electrolyte through an electrode chamber containing current-carrying conducting means which makes contact with the fluidized bed.

Electrochemical cells

Electrochemical process using a fluidized electrode

A process of diaphragmless electrolysis comprises providing an electrochemical cell having substantially parallel electrodes in the form of discs axially spaced from each other and connected for common rotation about their axis, one of the discs having means defining a central opening, causing common rotation of the electrodes, introducing matter to be electrolyzed through said central opening, adjusting the speed of rotation until the profile of velocity of effective radial flow between the discs shows a double-humped distribution, and applying a potential between the discs.

Electrochemical cells and methods of electrolysis

A method of carrying out an electrochemical reaction comprises setting up a fluidized bed of particles at least some of which have at least their surfaces conducting or semi-conducting, using upwardly flowing liquid electrolyte, with or without reactant liquid, for the purpose, and applying a voltage gradient across at least a portion of said fluidized bed of particles, the size of particles, the conductivity of and rate of flow of the said electrolyte and/or reactant liquid and the voltage gradient being such that not only are anodic and cathodic faces established in respect of each of some of the at least partly conducting particles but the electropotentials on said faces on substantially each bipolar particle are such that said electrochemical reaction takes place on at least some of said bipolar particles but only on one portion of the surfaces thereon of said particles. The said bipolar particles which, preferably, are spherical or cylindrical may comprise solid conducting or semi-conducting material or cores of non-conducting material with coatings of conducting or non-conducting material thereon. The said method may be, for example, the electrolysis of sea water for the production of hypochlorite or of bromide solution for the production of hypobromite or the decarboxylation of monomethyl adipate to dimethyl sebacate.

Electrochemical processes

The invention relates to electrochemical cells whereof one electrode is of a particulate type which may comprise a fluidized bed electrode, a packed bed electrode or a circulating bed electrode, an electrolyte being passed through the particulate electrode possibly for fluidizing and/or circulating the particles of the electrode. Whereas in previous cells of this kind a diaphragm has been arranged between the particulate electrode and the counterelectrode of the cell, it has been discovered that such a cell can be operated with the counterelectrode actually in contact with particles of the particulate electrode provided the material of the surface of the counterelectrode is suitably chosen. Among the materials mentioned are graphite, ruthenium oxide, lead oxide and iron oxide.

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Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Martin Fleischmann