Abstract: An improved electrically conductive, composite bipolar separator for electrochemical cells comprising a molded aggregate of an electrically conductive aggregate of powdered electrically conductive material and a chemically resistant resin with a vertical array of electrically conductive valve metal ribs partially embedded in the molded aggregate at least on the anode side and having the entire surface exposed to the anolyte, except the area of electrical contact with the anode, coated with a layer of a chemically resistant and electrically non-conductive resin, the said ribs being arranged to form a grid to distribute the current to the porous anode bonded on the surface of a semi-permeable membrane or diaphragm at a uniformly distributed multiplicity of points over the entire anode surface and electrochemical cells containing the said bipolar separator and method of producing the said bipolar separator.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of halogens and alkali metal hydroxide by electrolysis of aqueous solution of alkali metal halides in a flowing mercury electrolysis cell wherein the salt solutions do not have to purified and to novel amalgam denuders and a mercury electrolytic cell plant without a salt purification step.

Abstract: Describes a monopolar diaphragm electrolytic cell with dimensionally stable anodes in which the anodes rest freely in the cell and are spring-pressed toward the diaphragms by spring-loaded transverse arms on the positive current carriers, which in use contact, but are not mechanically connected to, the anodes, the spring-pressed electrical contacts between the transverse arms and the anodes are sufficient to carry current to the anodes without substantial ohmic drop through these contacts and permit the anodes to be removed from the cells for recoating and other purposes without destroying any welds or other permanent mechanical connections between the anodes and other portions of the cell.

Abstract: A novel polyphase packing for alkali metal mercury amalgam denuders comprised of a sintered mixture of powdered valve metal borides and valve metal carbides, a novel amalgam denuder containing the said polyphase packing and a novel process of decomposing alkali metal mercury amalgam by contacting the amalgam with an aqueous media in the presence of the said polyphase packing.

Abstract: Describes an electrolysis cell having metal anodes (preferably titanium) and metal cathodes connected together back to back by a metal to metal contact forming a bimetallic partition. The anodes and cathodes are in wave form with their active surfaces intermeshed together and the cell may be unipolar or bipolar with terminal positive and negative end unit cells and a plurality of intermediate cell units.

Abstract: Novel sulfonated copolymers formed by copolymerization of a halogenated monomer containing at least one fluorine atom and a monomer of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is an electron attracting group activating the hydrogen atom in the .alpha.-position so that the hydrogen may be replaced with a sulfonic group and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and ethyl and their preparation, novel diaphragms made therefrom, a diaphragm cell equipped with a diaphragm made of said sulfonated copolymer and to a method of electrolysis.

Abstract: A method of shaping an organic polymer insoluble in a polar solvent comprises reacting an insoluble organic polymer containing at least one Lewis acidic electron attracting group or Lewis basic group with a sufficient amount of a lower alkylene oxide to alkoxylate the Lewis group and form an alkoxylated product soluble or easily dispersible in a polar solvent, dissolving or dispersing the alkoxylated product in a polar solvent, shaping the alkoxylated product into the desired form by applying the solution or dispersion to a support and removing the polar solvent, and hydrolyzing the alkoxylated product to obtain the original polymer in the desired form. Products made by this process include self-supporting polymeric films and porous diaphragms for electrolytic cells made by impregnating suitable porous supports with the alkoxylated product.

Abstract: Describes an electrolysis cell and method of operation in which metal anodes (preferably titanium) provided with an electrically conducting electrocatalytic coating, in an anode compartment, face metal cathodes (preferably diaphragm covered) in a cathode compartment, in which the anodes are spaced from an imperforate valve metal separating partition by a separating wall behind which the anolyte can recirculate downward. The anodic gases rising in the anode compartment discharge into a brine box above the anode compartment near the center thereof and the anolyte recirculates downward near at least one end of the anode compartment, and a method of operation which provides circulation from front to back of the anode compartment and from center to the sides of the anode compartment.

Abstract: Novel two layer ceramic membranes for electrolysis cells comprising on the anodic side a layer of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Sb.sub.2 O.sub.5, Bi.sub.2 O.sub.5, MoO.sub.3, WO.sub.3 and V.sub.2 O.sub.5 and on the cathodic side a layer of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of ZrO.sub.2, Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 and TiO.sub.2, electrodes provided with a two layer ceramic membrane applied thereto, an electrolysis cell provided with a two layer ceramic oxide membrane and an electrolysis process wherein a two layer ceramic membrane is in the electrodic gap.

Abstract: Describes an electrolysis cell and method of operation in which metal anodes (preferably titanium) provided with an electrically conducting electrocatalytic coating, in an anode compartment, face metal cathodes (preferably diaphragm covered) in a cathode compartment, in which the anodes are spaced from an imperforate valve metal separating partition by a separating wall behind which the anolyte can recirculate downward. The anodic gases rising in the anode compartment discharge into a brine box above the anode compartment near the center thereof and the anolyte recirculates downward near at least one end of the anode compartment, and a method of operation which provides circulation from front to back of the anode compartment and from center to the sides of the anode compartment.

Abstract: Describes a diaphragm electrolysis cell and method of operation in which water vapor is continuously or intermittently condensed on the cathode side of the diaphragm surface to dilute and remove the hydroxide containing film which forms on the cathode side of the diaphragm surface.

Abstract: Novel sulfonated copolymers formed by copolymerization of a halogenated monomer containing at least one fluorine atom and a monomer of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is an electron attracting group activating the hydrogen atom in the .alpha.-position so that the hydrogen may be replaced with a sulfonic group and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and ethyl and their preparation, novel diaphragms made therefrom, a diaphragm cell equipped with a diaphragm made of said sulfonated copolymer and to a method of electrolysis.

Abstract: Describes an electrolysis cell having metal anodes (preferably titanium) and metal cathodes connected together by a metal-to-metal contact. The anodes and cathodes are in wave form, intermeshed together, and the cell may be unipolar or bipolar with terminal positive and negative end unit cells and a plurality of intermediate cell units. The method of electrolyte feeding and recirculation is applicable to the electrolysis cell specifically described and to other electrolysis cells having vertically arranged anodes and cathodes.

Abstract: Novel composite material comprising a supporting matrix of inert fibers impregnated with a halogenated copolymer of divinyl benzene and styrene containing sulfonic acid groups copolymerized directly on the fiber material in the absence of a solvent which remains dimensionally stable under electrolysis conditions in diaphragm cells and the method of making them and the method of electrolyzing alkali metal halide solutions in a diaphragm cell equipped with a diaphragm made of said impregnated composite diaphragm material.

Abstract: A novel process for the preparation of an alkali metal halate by electrolysis of an aqueous alkali metal halide solution comprising passing an alkali metal halide solution upwardly through a plurality of bipolar electrolysis units while passing an electrolysis current therethrough at a temperature of 90.degree. to 110.degree. C and at a current density to volume ratio of 15 to 30 A/liter to convert at least a portion of the alkali metal halide to alkali metal hypohalite, passing the resulting electrolyte while venting the hydrogen formed to a reaction zone whose volume is sufficient to provide a residence time to substantially complete the conversion of the alkali metal hypohalite to alkali metal halate and recovering the said halate from the electrolyte and an apparatus for performing the said process.

Abstract: Novel vertical multiunit electrolyzers with bipolar metallic electrodes for the electrolysis of halide containing electrolytes to produce oxidized halogen compounds and to a novel electrolysis of electrolytes which is designed to produce a gas lift effect to sweep solid deposits off the electrodes and out of the electrolyzer.

Abstract: Novel composite material comprising a supporting matrix of inert fibers impregnated with a halogenated copolymer of divinyl benzene and styrene containing sulfonic acid groups copolymerized directly on the fiber material in the absence of a solvent which remains dimensionally stable under electrolysis conditions in diaphragm cells and the method of making them and the method of electrolyzing alkali metal halide solutions in a diaphragm cell equipped with a diaphragm made of said impregnated composite diaphragm material.

Abstract: Describes a diaphragm electrolysis cell and method of operation in which water vapor is continuously or intermittently condensed on the cathode side of the diaphragm surface to dilute and remove the hydroxide containing film which forms on the cathode side of the diaphragm surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing percentage yield concurrent with increased current efficiency in electrolytic conversion of alkali metal chloride in an electrolyzer into alkali metal chlorate and formation of the chlorate by chemical disproportionation in separate chlorate formation zones, the use of bipolar electrolyzers is preferred but not necessary.

Abstract: Describes chlorine resistant metal electrodes, preferably of valve metals such as titanium and tantalum, having coatings of mixed metal oxides, preferably valve metal oxides, which have been doped to provide semi-conducting surfaces on the electrodes, which coatings also have the capacity to catalyze chlorine discharge from the electrodes and to resist corrosive conditions in a chlorine cell.