Abstract: This invention is directed to an electrode unit to be used for purification of emulsions and polluted waters, especially oil-bearing waters, by electrolysis which comprises vertically placed adjacent electrode plates of a soluble material, spacers for adjusting the distance between the electrode plates and equipment for adjusting the depth of immersion of the electrode plates. The tips of the electrode plates defines the only area of the plates in contact with the liquid to be purified and the depth of immersion of the electrode plates is adjusted in order to keep the current density between the electrode tips within a desired area. In addition, the space in between the plates is also adjusted in order to keep the current density between the electrode tips within the desired area.

Abstract: Laminated electrodes and a method for their preparation are described, these electrodes being composed of electrically conductive plastic having catalytic particles, composed of a catalyst deposited on supporting particles, pressed partially into the plastic. They can be used as oxygen anodes, for example in the electrolytic recovery of metal from aqueous solutions.

Abstract: An electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor is disclosed containing an alkyl quarternary ammonium salt of an enolform of a 1,3-cyclodiketone compound as solute within an aprotic solvent. The electrolyte exhibits high conductivity while eliminating the drawbacks associated with the presence of water.

Abstract: An electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor is disclosed containing a fluorocomplex acid salt of morpholine or a morpholine derivative as solute within an aprotic solvent. The electrolyte exhibits high conductivity while eliminating the undesirable side effects caused by the presence of water.

Abstract: An electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor is disclosed containing a fluorocomplex acid salt of imidazole or an imidazole derivative as solute within an aprotic solvent. The electrolyte exhibits high conductivity while eliminating the undesirable side effects caused by the presence of water.

Abstract: An electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor is disclosed containing a fluorocomplex acid salt of piperazine or piperazine derivatives as solute within an aprotic solvent. The electrolyte exhibits high conductivity while eliminating the undesirable side effects caused by the presence of water.

Abstract: An electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor is disclosed containing an alkyl quarternary ammonium salt of an enol-form of 1,3-diketone compound as solute within an aprotic solvent. The electrolyte exhibits high conductivity while eliminating the drawbacks associated with the presence of water.

Abstract: An electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor is disclosed containing an alkyl quarternary ammino salt of an aliphatic saturated monocarboxylic acid as solute within an aprotic solvent. The electrolyte exhibits high conductivity while eliminating the drawbacks associated with the presence of water.

Abstract: A device for silverizing water has a plurality of positive silver-containing electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes, and a housing composed of a plurality of housing portions each having a receptacle for receiving a respective one of the electrodes, wherein the housing portions are substantially identical and can be assembled with and disassembled from one another.

Abstract: A substrate is coated with a solution of metal oxide precursor compounds and an etchant for etching the substrate, the metal oxide precursor compounds are thermally concentrated by removing volatiles therefrom, and the so-concentrated metal oxides precursors are thermally oxidized in-situ on the substrate. The so-formed compositions are useful, e.g., as electrode material in electrochemical apparatuses and processes.

Abstract: An electrode comprises an outer casing and an inner casing which enclose un-baked electrode paste. A conducting mandrel is placed in the center of the electrode and is in electrical contact with the paste. Electric current passes through the conducting mandrel outwardly through the paste to provide a baked electrode. Slipping shoes engage the outer surface of the baked electrode to support the baked electrode and the unbaked paste. In one embodiment, a thin foil moves with the paste to allow the paste to move downwardly easily with respect to the casings, and in a second embodiment, the casing is oscillated with respect to the paste to prevent adhesion between the paste and the casing walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the individual marking of precooked anodes used in the production of aluminum by electrolysis in the Hall-Heroult process, and to the anodes produced thereby. These anodes are produced by hot compaction of a carbonaceous paste, and according to the invention, during or immediately after such compaction, a plurality of impressions is formed in the upper part of each anode. The impressions are depressions and/or relief portions, constitute a digital coding for the identification number of each anode, and remain legible until withdrawal of the components of the butt of the worn anode from the electrolysis tank. The marking can be carried out using a binary or ternary code, where the reference plane of the zone of the anode which carries the marking corresponds to a first digit, with other digits corresponding to depressions of a particular depth, depressions of a greater depth, or relief portions.

Abstract: Porous membranes of aromatic polymer (preferably ether ketone) are prepared with pore size and surface area allowing use in place of asbestos membranes in hot alkaline electrolysis cells. The membranes are prepared by solvent extraction of a polymer which is "partially incompatible" with the aromatic from a blend of the two. The membranes are preferably dried in the presence of a surfactant to enhance re-wetting in use.

Abstract: Silver cathodes used in electrochemical synthesis are activated or reactivated after a period of use by immersion in a dilute alkaline aqueous solution of a compatible oxidizing agent. Thus, an expanded silver sheet cathode in an electrolytic cell used for the conversion of 3,4,5,6-tetrachloropicolinic acid to the herbicide 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid was reactivated by circulating an aqueous solution containing about 0.5 percent sodium hypochlorite and about 2 percent sodium hydroxide through the cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a hydraulically impermeable permselective membrane is operated more efficiently by (1) separating the anode and the cathode of such a cell from the permselective membrane by a spacing means which is porous, hydrophilic, and electrically non-conductive, or alternatively, (2) providing a coating on the metal electrodes of said cell which is hydrophilic, porous, and electrically non-conductive. Said spacing means is of a material selected from the group consisting of at least one of mineral fibers, synthetic organic polymers, and ceramics and glasses.

Abstract: The invention is a membrane/electrode combination having an electrically conductive screen which has a first and a second face. The first face is substantially flat and the screen has a plurality of openings passing through it. The openings connect the first and the second faces of the screen and occupy up to about 75% of the surface area of each face of the electrically conductive screen. There is also an ion exchange membrane film having a first and a second face. The first face of the membrane film is attached to the first face of the electrically conductive screen, thereby leaving portions of the first face of the membrane film exposed through the openings in the electrically conductive screen. A plurality of catalytically active particles are disposed on the exposed portions of the first face of the membrane film and are in electrical and physical contact with the membrane and with the electrically conductive screen.

Abstract: A method of controlling interelectrode distance when a short occurs between an anode and the cathode metal pad of an electrolytic cell. Anode current data is provided by sampling anode current at a relatively high frequency, and noting any substantial instantaneous increase in current by observing the data over a period of time. Estimates of instantaneous losses in current efficiency over a base period of time due to the shorting are then made. Current efficiency losses are reduced by repositioning the anode via a command from a cell control computer to anode positioning means or by manual adjustment of the anodes in the cell.

Abstract: A non conductive, edge-strip for use on an electrolytic metal refining anode or cathode to prevent metal deposit problems over the edge contours of this cathode. The edge-strip is in the shape of an elongated profile member with a U-shaped cross-section sized to extend over, and fit snuggly onto an edge of the cathode. The edge-strip is made by pultrusion of fiberglass impregnated with a polymeric resin resistant to acids and alkalis, and externally covered with a surfacing veil resistant to acids and electrochemical attacks.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that in a solid electrolyte galvanic sensor, e.g. an yttria-stablized zirconia body, it is not necessary, as has hitherto been believed, to eliminate all impurities to achieve the important performance characteristics of rapid response time, reduced susceptibility to aging, and improved reliability. It has now been found that these improvements can be obtained by reducing only the concentration of iron oxide (and any other variable valence oxides that sometimes occur) in the sample, and that it is unnecessary to lower the concentration of oxides of fixed valence elements, such as silicon, aluminum, magnesium, and the alkali and alkaline earth metals, many of which tend to occur frequently as impurities in ceramic materials. This inventive selective elimination of only the variable valence oxides saves substantial cost in manufacture without loss of the performance advantages mentioned above. Indeed, better mechanical properties are often obtained.

Abstract: A process for reducing sulfate ion concentrations in an alkali metal halide brine to be electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell comprises feeding the alkali metal halide brines to a reaction zone containing a slurry of gypsum crystals having a concentration of at least 5 weight percent of solids to form a brine-containing slurry. An aqueous solution of a brine soluble calcium salt is admixed with the brine-containing slurry in an amount sufficient to reduce the sulfate ion concentration to a desired level. The brine-containing slurry is agitated at a pumping velocity of at least about 1.0 meters per second to release solution supersaturation by gypsum crystal formation.