Bbc Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited

Bbc Brown Boveri Ag

Paul Scherrer Institut

Asea Brown Boveri Inc.

Innovatec Gerätetechnik Gmbh

Samuel Stucki

Anton Menth

Rene Muller

Gunther Scherer

Hans Baumann

Robert Banziger

Hans-Jorg Christen

Dieter Winkler

Claus Schuler

Eric Killer

Dirk Schulze

Serge Biollaz

Frédéric Vogel

Hans-Peter Klein

Rudiger Kotz

Hubert Devantay

Claude Schellenberg

Erich De Boni

Roland Isenschmid

Hartmut Nagel

Martin Seemann

Maurice H Waldner

Thanh-Binh Truong

Maurice Waldner

An electrolysis cell, having an anode, a cathode, and a membrane that is situated between the anode and the cathode and contacts the anode via an anode contact area and contacts the cathode via a cathode contact area, wherein the cathode contact area is greater than the anode contact area, the membrane has a surface oriented toward the cathode that is greater than the cathode contact area, and the electrolysis cell has cathodically polarized surfaces that are in direct contact with the electrically conductive water. This invention also relates to a method for operating an electrolysis cell in natural water and a use of such an electrolysis cell for disinfecting water are also proposed.

Electrolysis cell and method for operating an electrolysis cell

To generate methane from biomass, a biomass pulp is produced from the biomass with a desired dry mass content being set, and the biomass pulp is placed under pressure. The biomass pulp is heated under pressure in order to liquefy the solid organic components of the biomass pulp. The pressurized and heated biomass pulp is heated further to at least the critical temperature of the biomass pulp. Solids precipitated under pressure and increased temperature are separated from the fluid phase. At least a part of the remaining fluid phase is gasified under pressure and increased temperature by means of a reactor to form a methane-rich gas.

Process for generating methane and/or methane hydrate from biomass

In a process for the synthetic generation of methane from a feed gas mixture, a feed gas mixture including carbon monoxide, hydrogen, water vapor, CO, volatile hydrocarbons comprising Cand higher, unsaturated Ccomponents and aromatic hydrocarbons in the range of 1 to 10 vol % is provided. The feed gas mixture is contacted with a fluidized bed catalyst having catalyst particles having a catalytic active component selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal compound and combinations thereof. The contacting occurs at an elevated temperature in the range of 250 to 450&#xb0; C., a feed gas pressure in the range of 0.8 to 70 bar, a gas hourly space velocity of 1000 to 50000 h, and a concentration of H/CO in the gas mixture in the range of 0.25 to 5.

Process for the synthetic generation of methane

A process for complete removal of nitrites and nitrates from an aqueous solution (1) by means of electrolysis, wherein the aqueous solution (1) is fed to the cathode space (4) of an electrolysis cell (2) and an aqueous solution (10), still containing only non-participating residual salts, is discharged from the anode space (6), whereas the gas (7) formed at the cathode is fed to a catalyst bed (8). In the latter, the gases H.sub.2, NH.sub.3, NO and N.sub.2 O collected in the cathode space (4) are converted to the non-toxic substances N.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. In addition, partial combustion of H.sub.2 by O.sub.2 from the anode space (6) for maintaining the temperature of the catalyst bed (8).

Process for complete removal of nitrites and nitrates from an aqueous

A method for purifying industrial waste water by direct oxidation of the organic pollutants in an electrochemical cell the anode of which contains, in its active part or in any intermediate layer present, neither noble metals in any form nor PbO.sub.2 nor graphite, but instead comprises in this part exclusively SnO.sub.2 which is doped with F, Cl, Sb, Mo, W, Nb, Ta or with a mixture of at least two of these elements. The anode has an oxygen overvoltage which is higher than that of a PbO.sub.2 comparison anode and reaches the value of at least 1.85 V at a current density of 0.1 mA/cm.sup.2 in 1 normal H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 under a pressure of 1 bar at a temperature of 20.degree. C. in the presence of a Pt counterelectrode.

Method for purifying industrial waste water by direct oxidation of the

A process for breaking down organic substances and/or microbes in pretreated feed water for high-purity recirculation systems using ozone which is generated in the anode space (5) of an electrochemical cell (3) and treated with ultraviolet rays and/or with H.sub.2 (8) generated in the cathode space (6) of the same cell (3) or H.sub.2 (20) supplied from outside. The latter is used to reduce elementary oxygen in any form to harmless water. Post treatment via mixed bed (14) and filter (15). Possibility of feeding back water (19) downstream of the receiver (17). No harmful reaction products.

Process for breaking down organic substances and/or microbes in

The feed water for a reverse osmosis device (7) is treated, by means of ozone, by being passed through a mixing vessel (4), in which the charging with ozone is carried out, a direct contact time container (5), and a residual-ozone destruction vessel (6) into the reverse osmosis device (7). At the permeate outlet (9) of the latter, part of the stream is branched off and fed, for charging with ozone, into an electrolysis cell (2) which is provided with a solid electrolyte, and fed back into the mixing vessel (4).

Process and a device for the treatment, by means of ozone, of feed water

A bipolar plate for an apparatus having a stacked configuration, said apparatus comprised of a plurality of electrochemical cells and employing a solid electrolyte, said bipolar plate comprised of a porous titanium plate (1) having a parallel groove structure (3), said bipolar plate further comprised of a non-porous, solid titanium plate (2) strongly welded to plate (1) at contact loci (4), wherewith channels (5) are present, and said bipolar plate further comprised of a surface layer or coating (6) comprised of a material which is a catalyst for electrolytic reactions. A method of manufacturing the subject bipolar plate, comprising the following: Powder metallurgical manufacture of the porous titanium plate (1), and bonding of plate (1) to the solid titanium plate (2) by sintering. Further development of the bipolar plate by applying a non-porous, solid graphite and PVF composite plate (7) with a parallel groove structure (8), and further applying a porous graphite and PVF composite plate (10), wherewith channels (9) are present. Combining of the plates by hot pressing, sintering, or adhesive bonding, to form a compact, mechanically strong electrically conducting whole.

Bipolar plate for an apparatus with a stacked configuration, said

An electrically conductive layer on a solid-body electrolyte (1) is produced by swelling and impregnating an organic ion exchange material (2) with a metal salt solution, drying, converting the metal ions in a gas stream to finely distributed particles (3) which are in electrical contact with one another, renewed swelling in a solvent, converting into a brushable paste and applying same to the surface of the solid-body electrolyte and drying. Preferred embodiment: solid-body electrolyte (1) and ion exchange material (2) made of polymers containing sulphonic acids; and conductive particles (3) made of platinum metals or oxides thereof, in particular ruthenium as electrocatalyst.

Process for producing an electrically conductive layer on the surface of

Hydrogen peroxide, H.sub.2 O.sub.2, is electrochemically produced from water or an aqueous solution and oxygen in an electrolytic cell using a solid electrolyte (1) made of a perfluorinated polymer and gas-permeable coatings (2,3) as electrodes by supplying the water to the anode side and the oxygen to the cathode side and withdrawing the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 on the cathode side. In this process, the oxygen produced on the anode side can also be made use of by passing it round to the cathode side or passing it through the solid electrolyte (1) in any such case where no undesirable gas (for example chlorine) is simultaneously formed at the anode. The process works largely independently of the cation concentration (salts, bases) and does not require an additional separation of the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 from a liquid electrolyte.

Process for the electrolytic production of hydrogen peroxide

Nitric oxide is prepared by the oxidation of ammonia produced by the Haber-Bosch synthesis technique by (a) vaporizing and heating water to superheated steam; (b) electrolyzing the superheated steam in a high temperature electrolysis cell to oxygen and hydrogen; (c) reacting said hydrogen with atmospheric nitrogen thereby forming ammonia by the Haber-Bosch process; and (d) oxidizing said ammonia to nitric oxide and water vapor in the anode of said electrolytic cell with the oxygen produced by said electrolysis.

Process for the continuous production of nitric oxide (NO)

Electrolytic production of ozone by a process wherein an oxygen-saturated mixture of water and oxygen, or air, is led along both sides of a solid electrolyte (1), which acts as an ion-exchange membrane and carries coatings (2,3) of electrically conductive materials, both on the cathode side and on the anode side, ozone being evolved, in addition to oxygen, on the anode side and, on the cathode side, the evolution of hydrogen being suppressed by the depolarizing effect of the oxygen which is entrained in the water stream, and merely water being formed. The electrolysis is carried out under an increased pressure. Individual electrolysis cell bounded by bipolar plates (6), and comprising a solid electrolyte (1), provided, in each case, with a surface coating (2,3), and centrally located between current-collectors (4) and adjoining open metallic structures (5). A plurality of individual cells integrated together between end plates (7), electrically connected in series and hydrodynamically connected in parallel, combined to form a block. Use in water-treatment, and as a component of chemical processes (oxidation processes).

Process for the synthetic production of ozone by electrolysis and use

A process and apparatus for continuously coating a solid electrolyte with a catalytically active metal, whereby large-area sheets of the solid electrolyte are continuously coated in a uniform manner with the catalytically active metals, by first being impregnated with an aqueous solution of the particular metal and subsequently being passed through, in a water bath, between two rolls acting as electrodes, wherein a felt of carbon is arranged on the cathode side interposed between the electrolyte and the cathode roll, and thus being subjected to an electrolysis process.

Process and apparatus for continuously coating a solid electrolyte with

An improved electrode for the electrolysis of water comprising a porous sinter plate of titanium or a titanium alloy having on one surface a coating of a finely divided catalyst comprising a mixture of ruthenium oxide and iridium oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode has on its outer margin a dense, non-porous zone having a smooth appearance.

Electrode in water electrolysis

A metal is electrolytically deposited on a nonconductive surface comprising impregnating a solid material with a reducible metal salt thereby forming a solid electrolyte material; placing the solid electrolyte material between an anode and a cathode thereby forming an electrolytic cell and impressing a current across the electrodes of a potential sufficient to electrolyze the metal ions thereby resulting in the deposition of a metal layer along the surface of the electrolyte adjacent the cathode.

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Baden, Switzerland

Samuel Stucki