Abstract: An aqueous solution of alkane sulfonic acid and inorganic nitrate used to strip metals from substrate surfaces, such as in stripping tin or tin-lead from copper surfaces, is regenerated by subjecting it to electrolysis to case dissolved stripped metals therein to deposit in metallic form on the surfaces of a cathode.

Abstract: Detoxification apparatus (1) for disposing of toxic waste material by incineration includes a closed reactive vessel (3) having an inlet (5) and an outlet (7). Waste material is introduced into the vessel in a fluid state and a laser (19) produces a high energy laser beam within the vessel. The waste material passes through the beam and the beam energy creates very high temperatures within the material that incinerates the toxic waste. The detoxified material is removed from the vessel for further processing.

Abstract: Pretreating the surface of electrically conducting molded materials, such as metal foil or plastic films in whose polymer matrix electrically conducting particles have been incorporated, by means of electrical corona discharge is provided. A generator subjects the high voltage discharge electrodes of the corona discharge to a high-frequency alternating current of high voltage. The metal core of a roller, over whose metallic circumference a film web or foil is transported, serves as the grounded metallic counter-electrodes. A housing encloses the high voltage electrodes of the corona discharge and is connected via a line to an atomizer apparatus, in which a liquid is atomized to give a suspendible aerosol by means of a piezoelectric ultrasonic vibrator system or by two-material atomizer nozzles operating at the speed of sound.

Abstract: Non-adherent copper metal particles ("fines") formed in a plating bath during the course of autocatalytic electroless copper deposition onto activated substrate surfaces are oxidized and redissolved in the bath by brief application of current between an anode element and a cathode element immersed in the bath, the anode element being comprised of an anode surface substantially parallel and proximate to the bottom surface of the vessel containing the bath.

Abstract: Highly pure europium (II) values are produced in high yields by electrolytically reducing an aqueous solution of europium (III) values circulating in the cathode compartment of an electrolytic cell, the electrolytic cell including a graphite cathode and an anode compartment separated from the cathode compartment by a cationic exchange membrane, recovering a solution of europium (II) values from the cathode compartment, and advantageously liquid/liquid extracting the europium (II) values thereform, e.g., with an organic solution of an organophosphorus extractant.

Abstract: A metallic oxide such as aluminum oxide of significantly improved electrical properties is disclosed. The method of oxide formation includes a combination of soft porous anodization followed by transformation to a hard barrier form of oxide using inter alia low temperature electrolytes, constant voltage anodizing, and timely rate of current change responsive termination of the anodizing process. Use of the resulting oxide in electrical insulation, optic and other environments is contemplated.

Abstract: A liquid film type, chloride ion-selective electrode is provided with the present invention, which comprises a sensitive film containing a polymeric material as a support film material, a tetraalkyl ammonium salt with four alkyl group each having 10-24 carbon atoms as a chloride ion-sensitive substance, and a mixture of a linear alcohol having a low dielectric constant with at leastg 10 carbon atoms and an organic compound having a dielectric constant higher than that of said linear alcohol as plasticizer. This electrode has a high selectivity over lipophilic anions and hydrophilic anions, high accuracy ion measurements, and a long life.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell including an electrode comprising Magneli phase titanium oxide is disclosed for use with reduction oxidation reactions. The use of the Magneli phase titanium oxide electrode advantageously inhibits certain redox back reactions.

Abstract: A process for recovering in pure metal form substantially all lead from battery sludge is disclosed. The battery sludge is desulfurized, leached with acid, and separated by filtration. Lead is recovered from the filtrate by electrowinning. The residue from the leaching and filtration is treated with concentrated sulfuric acid to cause the simultaneous occurring of the following reactions:C.sub.n (H.sub.2 O).sub.m +H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 .fwdarw.nC+H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 .multidot.mH.sub.2 O (1)C+2PbO.sub.2 +2H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 .fwdarw.2PbSO.sub.4 +CO.sub.2 +2H.sub.2 O (2)up to the quantitative reduction of substantially all of the lead dioxide PbO.sub.2 and elimination of substantially all the organic substances C.sub.n (H.sub.2 O).sub.m contained in the insoluble residue. Lead sulfate from the above reaction is recycled to the desulfurization step.

Abstract: This is a method of reducing zirconium chloride to a metal product by introducing zirconium chloride into a molten salt bath containing at least one alkali metal chloride and at least one alkaline earth metal chloride; and electrochemically reducing alkaline earth metal chloride to a metallic alkaline earth metal in the molten salt bath, with the reduced alkaline earth metal reacting with the zirconium chloride to produce zirconium metal. By using this electrochemical-metallothermic reduction, zirconium metal is produced and insoluble subchlorides of zirconium in the metal product are generally avoided.Preferably, the molten salt in the molten salt bath consists essentially of a mixture of lithium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride and zirconium or hafnium chloride.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing quaternary ammonium hydroxides of improved purity. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process of preparing quaternary ammonium hydroxides from the corresponding quaternary ammonium salts in an electrolytic cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode and a catholyte compartment containing a cathode and water, said anolyte and catholyte compartments being separated from each other by a cation-exchange membrane, said process comprising the steps of(a) providing the catholyte compartment with a cathode of zinc, cadmium, tin, lead, or alloys thereof, mercury, or mercury amalgam,(b) charging an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt to the anolyte compartment,(c) passing a current through the electrolytic cell to produce quaternary ammonium hydroxide in the catholyte compartment, and(d) recovering the quaternary ammonium hydroxide from the catholyte compartment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for electrolysis by percolation through at least one porous volumic electrode, for carrying out an electrochemical reaction. The process is of the type comprising electrically polarizing each volumic electrode formed by a conductive bed of solid particles (2), and causing a liquid electrolyte to circulate through said volumic electrode. The process according to the invention is characterized in causing a periodic pulsation of the electrolyte, such that the particles of the bed forming the volumic electrode are placed in a state of fluidization during one fraction of the cycle of pulsation and remain in a fixed bed during the remainder of the cycle with reversal of the direction of circulation. The process suppresses the phenomena of clogging while providing an excellent coefficient of transfer, without disturbing the selectivity of the electrochemical reaction.

Abstract: A system for treating a barren solution typically containing a heavy metal such as copper, and complexed cyanide, from a precious metal mill, is treated in a first electrochemical cell to remove the heavy metal and free the cyanide whereafter the treated solution can be returned to the precious metal mill as leaching solution; the barren solution flows through a porous cathode in which the heavy metal is electrochemically deposited, and against an inert anode; the deposited heavy metal is recovered in a sheet form by employing the heavy metal loaded cathode as an anode in a second electrochemical cell, the heavy metal entering solution and being deposited on a cathode sheet typically of stainless steel or titanium from which a deposited sheet of the heavy metal is readily peeled; the porous cathode free of heavy metal can be reused in the first cell.

Abstract: Short capillary segments are introduced in succession into the current path of a capillary electrophoresis system, either at the downstream end of the separation capillary for purposes of collecting the eluting species in fractions, or at the upstream end for purposes of sequential sample loading. The segments are preferably contained in mobile cassettes whose motion is governed by either continuous or stepper motors at a controlled rate depending on which position the cassette occupies in the solute migration path.

Abstract: In an apparatus for electrophoresis, using a support for a gel and a liquid buffer, a plurality of driving electrodes arrayed in spaced relation to one another so as to contact the medium, and a plurality of sensing electrodes arrayed in spaced relation to one another and the driving electrodes so as to contact the medium. Each sensing electrode is preferably radially inward of and paired with a single one of the driving electrodes. Means are provided respectively for providing electrical potentials to be applied to selected ones of the driving electrodes, for applying the provided potentials, for sensing electrical potentials at selected ones of the sensing electrodes, and for adjusting the applied potentials to maintain the sensed potential at a selected value at a sensing electrode of each pair. The apparatus may be programmably controllable so as to enable an electric field to be modulated in amplitude and direction, as a function of time.

Abstract: An electrolytic oxidation process for producing alkali metal permanganate from alkali metal manganate, and particularly for effecting such production to regenerate a permanganate working bath, such as used in desmearing, etch-back or cleaning processes in the manufacture of printed circuits, which has reached a level of decreased working efficiency, wherein an aqueous alkaline soluiton of manganate in alkali metal hydroxide is electrolytically oxidized using a non-sacrificial anode and a cathode compised of an alkali-resistant electrode immersed in a concentrated aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide in a container porous to ions.

Abstract: An apparatus for electro-coating disc-like workpieces (can ends for food cans) comprises an electrolyte tank and a carrier wheel mounted for rotation with one third of its periphery in the electrolyte. The wheel carries equi-spaced pallets, each defining a pocket for holding a workpiece with its periphery in good electrical contact with the pallet while the pallet is carried by the wheel through the electrolyte adjacent a counter electrode. Energisation of the pallets is achieved by sliprings each having three conductive segments connected to respective pallets spaced equally around the wheel. Adjacent segments in adjacent sliprings are staggered for sequential energisation of the pallets while submerged in the electrolyte. Electrical control means (a) test for the presence of a workpiece in a pocket, and for the degree of workpiece contact with its pocket, and (b) control the electric current passing to each separate pallet.

Abstract: An ion exchange membrane cell comprises an anode, a cathode, an anode compartment and a cathode compartment formed by partitioning by an ion exchange membrane. A gas and liquid permeable porous non-electrode layer is bonded at least one of surface of said ion exchange membrane.An ion exchange membrane comprises a gas and liquid permeable porous non-electrode layer which is bonded to at least one surface of said membrane.An aqueous solution of an alkali metal chloride is electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, an anode compartment and a cathode compartment formed by partitioning with an ion exchange membrane wherein a gas and liquid permeable porous non-electrode layer is bonded to at least one of surfaces of said ion exchange membrane and an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chloride is fed into said anode compartment to form chlorine on said anode and to form an alkali metal hydroxide in said cathode compartment.

Abstract: An electrochemical separation of oxygen from oxygen containing gaseous mixtures, such as air, using an oxygen containing molten inorganic salt electrolyte retained in a porous matrix between two gas porous catalytic electrodes wherein oxygen is separated from the gaseous mixture when electrical potential is applied across the electrodes providing movement of non-metallic oxygen containing ion from the cathode to the anode.

Abstract: Cerous 3.sup.30 values are converted into ceric 4.sup.+ values, in a conventional separator-free electrolytic cell, by emulsifying an organic phase containing a cerium 4.sup.+ extractant in an aqueous sulfuric phase which includes the cerium 3.sup.+ values to be converted; simultaneously electrolytically oxidizing the cerium 3.sup.+ values into cerium 4.sup.+ values in a zone of electrolysis including an anode and a cathode, whereby the cerium 4.sup.+ values formed are liquid/liquid extracted into the organic phase; separating the resulting emulsion into an aqueous phase and an organic phase enriched in cerium 4.sup.+ values; and recovering the enriched organic phase.