Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronically conductive polymer film comprising colloidal catalytic particles homogeneously dispersed therein. The electronically conductive polymer is preferably polypyrrole although other conductive polymers, for example, polyaniline and polythiophene are also utilizable. The preferred catalytic particles are platinum although other catalytic particles such as RuO.sub.2, Ag, Pd, Ni, Cd, Co, Mo, Mn-oxide, Mn-sulfide, a molybdate, a tungstate, tungsten carbide, a thiospinel, Ru, Rh, Os, It, or a platinum palladium alloy (Pt/Pd).The colloidal catalytic particles incorporated in the film of the present invention are less than 100 nanometers in size, preferably about 10 nm in size. In a most preferred composition, the polymer is polypyrrole and the catalytic particles are platinum.The present invention also involves a method of producing an electronically conductive polymer film containing colloidal catalytic particles homogeneously dispersed therein.

Abstract: A device for purifying water of mineral contaminants, bacteria, protozoa, algae, fungus, and other undesirable impurities, as well as for preventing and removing scale from conduits and containers within which water is maintained, that utilizes an electronic circuit capable of generating a plurality of interacting electromagnetic fields. The circuitry is capable of generating the combination of a first static electromagnetic field of variable offset, a second radio frequency varying electromagnetic field, and a third low frequency varying electromagnetic field with high amplitude, short pulse width, spikes. In addition, the circuitry is capable of inducing a high negative ion concentration in the water within which electrodes connected to the circuitry are immersed. The invention anticipates the use of electrodes suitable not only for the flow of water about the electrodes through a conduit, but the placement of electrodes within a pool of water to be purified.

Abstract: A process for producing chlorine dioxide a solution of chloric acid is reduced in the presence of an externally added load of perchlorate ions to form chlorine dioxide.

Abstract: Increased efficiency of extraction of silver and gold from ore materials thereof containing active carbonaceous material is obtained by conducting the extraction in two stages. In a first stage a portion of the silver and of the gold when present is extracted in a cyanide leach solution. The leached solids residue is contacted with activated carbon so that the silver and the gold when present are adsorbed on the activated carbon at elevated temperature (most preferably at about 35.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.). In a modification, a slurry of the ore material is treated with cyanide and the precious metal adsorbed directly from the cyanided slurry with activated carbon at elevated temperature up to about 70.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current-conducting roller comprising a central portion constituting the main axial portion of the roller and two half-shafts extending respective ends of the central portion, each half-shaft comprising a steel body provided with an internal copper heat-shrink fitting itself provided with an internal protective bushing, wherein the internal copper fitting is placed in a blind bore of the steel body and wherein it is provided with a compressible gasket interposed between the end of the blind bore and the corresponding end of the internal copper fitting.

Abstract: A method for changing a metal body, especially an aluminum alloy body, and, in particular, a method for producing a uniform metal body surface for use in achieving desired light reflectance characteristics and/or other useful attributes. The method comprises (a) preparing a metal body in a first solution by producing a first coating on at least a desired portion thereof with the first coating providing a substantially continuous outer surface on the metal body and (b) treating the metal body to achieve substantial uniformity throughout the desired portion of the metal body. In the treating step, substantially all of the first coating is removed in a second solution. The metal body has a substantially uniform roughened surface after the treating step which is sufficient to substantially optimize diffusive reflectance and reduce spectral reflectance of the metal body surface. The preparing step is preferably accomplished by anodizing.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing in a Simons electrochemical cell charged with anhydrous liquid HF and a S- and H-containing organic precursor fluorochemical compounds having the formula F.sub.5 S--R.sub.f --X where X is COF or SO.sub.2 F; R.sub.f is a saturated fluoroaliphatic radical having at least 3 fully-fluorinated C atoms; and the F.sub.5 S group is bonded via a S--C bond to 1 of the 3 fully-fluorinated C atoms of the R.sub.f radical.

Abstract: An electrolytic process for making hydroxides or alkoxides from the corresponding halide salts in a divided cell where the desired compounds are formed in the catholyte while the accumulation of halogen in the anolyte is effectively prevented throught the action of a reducing agent added to the acidic anolyte.

Abstract: Chlorine dioxide, useful as a pulp mill chemical, is produced without producing sodium sulfate effluent for disposal, by effecting reduction of chloric acid in an aqueous reaction medium in a reaction zone at a total acid normality of up to about 7 normal in the substantial absence of sulfate ion and in the promence of a dead load of sodium chlorate added to and subsequently removed from the reaction medium. Chloric acid for the process is produced electrolytically from an aqueous solution of the deadload sodium chlorate and make-up quantities of sodium chlorate. The chloric acid reduction to produce chlorine dioxide may be effected using methanol or electrolytically.

Abstract: An electrochemical process and electrochemical cell for reducing a metal oxide are provided. First the oxide is separated as oxygen gas using, for example, a ZrO.sub.2 oxygen ion conductor anode and the metal ions from the reduction salt are reduced and deposited on an ion conductor cathode, for example, sodium ion reduced on a .beta.-alumina sodium ion conductor cathode. The generation of and separation of oxygen gas avoids the problem with chemical back reaction of oxygen with active metals in the cell. The method also is characterized by a sequence of two steps where an inert cathode electrode is inserted into the electrochemical cell in the second step and the metallic component in the ion conductor is then used as the anode to cause electrochemical reduction of the metal ions formed in the first step from the metal oxide where oxygen gas formed at the anode. The use of ion conductors serves to isolate the active components from chemically reacting with certain chemicals in the cell.

Abstract: Described is a method for forming a sieve material in which a sieve skeleton is thickened in an electrolysis bath with metal; in the bath as used at least one chemical compound is present having properties of both a first and second class brightener in such concentration and added with such a rate in view of the Ah (ampere hour) load that the internal stress in the finished sieve material is reduced in comparison to a sieve material produced in a bath comprising a conventional compound under conventional conditions. The invention also relates to a sieve material formed with the method described.

Abstract: A method is provided for the electrolytic production of magnesium metal. The method is highly economical in that the method permits the use of magnesium oxide as a feed stock for the electrolytic process. The method uses a rare earth chloride as a constituent of the electrolyte bath. The rare earth chloride spontaneously reacts with the magnesium oxide to form magnesium chloride. The magnesium chloride can then be electrolyzed using standard electrolysis methods. The avoidance of using magnesium chloride as the feed stock to the process eliminates the substantial costs involved with producing and purifying magnesium chloride from natural sources. In addition, the rare earth chloride continuously reacts with any magnesium oxide from any source which may form during the process to prevent a sludge from forming within the electrolyte, such that the process efficiently produces magnesium metal with no losses attributable to sludge formation.

Abstract: A novel method for making metals and homogeneous metal alloys comprises the steps of (a) providing a polymetallic complex of the general formula(.mu..sub.4 -0)L.sub.4 M'M"M'"M""X.sub.nwherein L is a ligand selected from the group consisting of organic and inorganic ligands, wherein M', M", M'", and M"" are metal atoms two or more of which may be the same, wherein X is a halogen atom, and wherein n is an integer ranging from 4 to 6; and (b) electrochemically depositing at least one of the metals from said polymetallic complex.

Abstract: Electrochemical process for preparing diaryliodonium salts using a single compartment and a carbon anode. The process has high current efficiency and, optionally, increased para, para' regioselectivity. The process proceeds in the presence of a solvent such as acetic acid and an electrolyte such as a compound of fluorine or sulfuric acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of cyclic sulfates and cyclic sulfamidates from the corresponding cyclic sulfite and cyclic sulfamidite substrate, respectively. The method involves the electrolysis of a solvent mixture containing active metal species, non-metal oxidant species and substrate.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing chlorine dioxide which comprises feeding an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorate to a first ion exchange compartment of an electrolytic cell having an anode compartment, a cathode compartment and at least one ion exchange compartment between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment, electrolyzing an anolyte in the anode compartment to generate hydrogen ions, passing the hydrogen ions from the anode compartment through a cation exchange membrane into the first ion exchange compartment to displace alkali metal ions and produce an aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate, passing alkali metal ions from the first ion exchange compartment into the cathode compartment, and reacting in a chlorine dioxide generator the aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate substantially free of anionic and cationic impurities with a reducing agent which does not form persistent anions in the generator solution, to generate chlorine dioxide and

Abstract: An electrochemical installation for treating aqueous effluent containing a heavy metal, the installation comprising an electroplating reactor for the heavy metal, itself comprising a tank in which alternating electrodes of opposite polarity are placed, the cathodes being removable volume electrodes each constituted by a cassette in the form of two facing frames each supporting a wall that is permeable to said aqueous effluent, the permeable walls of a single cathode defining a space that is filled with an active granular material and in which a metal current-feed grid is disposed. According to the invention, the installation further comprises a regeneration electrochemical reactor for receiving the cathodes as anodes, the metal constituting the metal current-feed grids being selected from metals having an oxidation-reduction potential greater than that of the heavy metal to be electroplated and enabling the end of regeneration to be detected.

Abstract: Technetium-contaminated nickel is decontaminated by electrolytically dissolving nickel having a gross beta activity of at least about 74 Bq in a sulfuric acid solution having a pH between about 0.5 and 2.0. The applied voltage is from 2.0 v/cell to 5.0 v/cell for dissolving the nickel and contaminants while cathodically producing hydrogen gas. Technetium (+4) species in the acid solution is oxidized to the technetium (+7) species. The pH of the technetium-containing acid solution is adjusted to between 2.5 to 4.5. Particulates in the acid solution are filtered from the solution for reducing the gross beta activity of the acid solution to less than about 50 Bq/gm. Radioactive ions (including technetium complexes) are sorbed in an anionic exchanger and a cationic exchanger for reducing the gross beta activity of the acid solution to less than about 20 Bq/gm. After verifying the gross beta activity of the acid solution, the acid solution is either recycled or charged to a electrowinning step.

Abstract: An iodide-doped, polythienylene coated electrode suitable for a potentiometric iodide ion sensor and a method for its manufacture are disclosed. The electrode is prepared by polymerizing the polythienylene on a working surface thereof. To this end, the working surface is contacted with a monomer solution of thiophene monomer and an electrolyte dissolved in organic solvent. Thereafter the solution is subjected to either a substantially constant potential of about 1.6 volts to about 1.8 volts vs. Ag/AgCl or to a cycling potential between -0.1 volts and +1.8 volts vs. Ag/AgCl for a time period sufficient to polymerize a polythienylene film of the desired thickness onto the working surface of the electrode.The polythienylene film on the working surface is then doped with I.sub.2 by placing the coated electrode in an aqueous solution of iodide salt under applied potential conditions of about +0.6 volts to about +1 volt vs. Ag/AgCl for a period of time sufficient to dope the polymer.

Abstract: A process of operating an electrochemical cell with a particular catholyte flow pattern is disclosed wherein the cell is angled from the horizontal and the catholyte is fed into a gap in the cathode compartment between the liquid metal cathode and the membrane on the lower first end and exits the gap on the opposing higher second outlet end.