Abstract: An improved aqueous acidic electrolyte suitable for electrodepositing zinc alloys comprising a combination of zinc and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron, and mixtures thereof incorporating an effective amount of an additive agent for providing improved grain-refinement and enhancing the codeposition of the alloying metals in the zinc alloy deposit. The additive agent comprises a bath soluble terminally substituted polyoxyalkylene compound derived from the sulfation, amination, phosphating, chlorination, bromination, phosphonation, and sulfonation as well as combinations thereof;(a) The polymerization of alkylene oxides selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycidol, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof; and(b) the alkoxylation of mono and polyhydroxy compounds selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl containing alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, as well as mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided for removing H.sub.2 S from a gas mixture. The cell includes porous, gas diffusion electrodes and a membrane containing an aqueous alkaline polysulfide electrolyte. H.sub.2 S is reduced to polysulfide ions at one electrode and the ions migrate through the membrane to the other electrode where they are oxidized to form elemental sulfur. Another embodiment of the invention utilizes a solvent to remove the H.sub.2 S from the gas mixture. Bisulfide ions are formed and are oxidized in an electrochemical cell to form elemental sulfur. The solvent is regenerated in the cell and recycled.

Abstract: A halogen, such as chlorine, is generated by electrolysis of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal halide such as sodium chloride, in a cell having anolyte and catholyte chambers separated by a solid polymer electrolyte in the form of a stable, selectively cation permeable, ion exchange membrane. One or more catalytic electrodes including at least one thermally stablized, reduced oxide of a platinum group metal are bonded to the surface of the membrane. An aqueous brine solution is brought into contact with the anode and water or an aqueous NaOH solution is brought into contact with the cathode. The brine is electrolyzed to produce chlorine at the anode and hydrogen and caustic at the cathode. The cell membrane preferably has an anion rejecting cathode side barrier layer which rejects hydroxyl ions to block back migration of caustic to the anode thereby enhancing the cathode current efficiency of the cell and of the process.

Abstract: An electrochromic display device is provided in which a high molecular weight conductive membrane is formed on a conductive, transparent base, and an opposing electrode is arranged thereunder via a liquid electrolyte. The conductive, electrochromic membrane is a polyisothianaphthene, a chemically and physically stable material which gives the device superior electrochromic switching characteristics, including a fast response time and a high contrast color change upon oxidation and reduction. Other applications which rely on the electrochromic properties of the polyisothianaphthene are disclosed as well.

Abstract: A membrane anchor for an ion-selective electrode may be formed by intersolubilizing an ion-selective membrane lying above a sensing pad with a region of thermoplastic material laterally disposed around the membrane. A first layer of electrically insulating thermoset material lies beneath the thermoplastic material and in intimate contact with an electrically insulating substrate. A second layer of exposed thermoset material lies above the thermoplastic material and contacts the first layer of thermoset material around the entire lateral perimeter of the thermoset material.The membrane anchor may be usefully employed with an ion-selective electrode having an electrically insulating substrate with a substantially planar surface and having non-metallic means for sensing a potential affixed to the surface beneath an ion-sensitive membrane.

Abstract: Process for purifying the fumes emitted by electrolysis pots for the production of aluminum from fluorinated products, alumina and various components of the electrolysis bath, and for using again these products in the pots. The process consists in sucking the electrolysis fumes from at least a hole provided in the crust, and kept constantly open, by keeping under suction only the area surrounding said hole, in contacting the fumes with alumina, and in reintroducing the products fixed and/or retained on the alumina directly back into the same pot from which they have been emitted. Equipment for accomplishing the process, constitutes a cap placed in contact with the crust in correspondence of the hole, by a reactor of the fluidized bed type, or of the injection "Venturi" type, positioned in correspondence of the pot, with related filter and fan/exhauster.

Abstract: An all chloride bath is provided for electroplating nickel phosphorus on a substrate. The bath includes 0.7-1.3 molar Ni.sup.+, 1-2 molar Cl.sup.-, and 1-3 molar HPO.sub.3.sup.+2. The bath also optionally contains 0.2-0.6 molar PO.sub.4.sup.-3. The bath contains as little sulfate as possible. Any sodium lauryl sulfate in the bath can be removed using a carbon filter. The electroplatings produced according to the invention have Knight shift, density, and non-uniform thickness properties more characteristic of electroplated nickel phosphorus than electroless. They have lower tensile strength, increased inherent brightness, and reduced graininess compared to electroplating from baths including sulfate. The bath has increased cathode efficiency, increased conductivity, and reduced formation of unwanted precipitates compared to baths with sulfates. The bath constituents may be provided from NiCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O and H.sub.3 PO.sub.3 ; or from Ni(H.sub.2 PO.sub.3).sub.2 and HCl.

Abstract: Chlorine dioxide is formed by an autocatalytic electrochemical process from highly acidic chlorate solution containing a residual concentration of chlorine dioxide. Cathodic current is applied to the solution by an electrode which does not otherwise catalyze the chemical formation of chlorine dioxide from the acidic chlorate solution. High purity chloride dioxide is obtained while half the acid is consumed and half the water is produced as compared with a conventional chemical chlorine dioxide generating process.

Abstract: An electrode for electrolysis which comprises an electrode substrate made of a conductive metal having thereon a coating of an electrode active substance is disclosed, in which a first intermediate layer comprising at least one compound of rare earth element and a second intermediate layer containing at least one of base metals and base metal oxides are provided between said electrode substrate and electrode active substance coating. The electrode exhibits high resistance to passivation and excellent durability, and is particularly suitable for use in electrolysis accompanied by oxygen generation and for organic electrolysis.

Abstract: A process for reducing the amount of halogens and halogen acids in high temperature combustion gases and through their removal, the formation of halogenated organics at lower temperatures, with the reduction being carried out electrochemically by contacting the combustion gas with the negative electrode of an electrochemical cell and with the halogen and/or halogen acid being recovered at the positive electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical process for oxidizing an ore, such as a refractory ore, utilizes a centrifugal reactor having a central rotor cathode, the circumference of which is enclosed by an anode housing defining an active anode surface. The crushed ore is pulped in an aqueous chloride containing electrolyte and applied to the active anode surface. The reactor is spun in the presence of sufficient electrolyte to establish an electric circuit between the cathode and the anode, and so that a fluid pressure of from about 10 psi to about 100 psi is obtained at the active anode surface. A current density is provided at the active anode surface of from about 0.1 amp/sq.in. to about 1.0 amp/sq.in. so that chlorine is generated at the anode and the crushed ore particles are oxidized to release metal values of interest.

Abstract: Electrolytic recovery of silver metal is accomplished by application of a direct current with controlled ripple such that for any concentration of silver in the electrolyte, the instantaneous magnitude of the electrical potential across the electrodes is sufficient to sustain deposition of silver on the cathode while the peak values of said electrical potential are below the critical potential at and above which silver sulphide is precipitated from solution and/or hydrogen sulphide gas is generated.

Abstract: A process for extracting transition metals and particularly cobalt and manganese together with iron, copper and nickel from low grade ores (including ocean-floor nodules) by converting the metal oxides or other compositions to chlorides in a molten salt, and subsequently using a combination of selective distillation at temperatures below about 500.degree. C., electrolysis at a voltage not more negative than about -1.5 volt versus Ag/AgCl, and precipitation to separate the desired manganese and cobalt salts from other metals and provide cobalt and manganese in metallic forms or compositions from which these metals may be more easily recovered.

Abstract: A method for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises the steps of (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein the membrane separates the environment from an interior space of a closed container, (2) transporting a carrier fluid into contact with the second surface of the membrane, wherein the carrier fluid is confined in the closed container and the carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through the membrane binds to the carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, (3) transporting the carrier fluid containing the bound oxygen complex to a first electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell which forms a second portion of the closed container, (4) electrochemically modifying the binding-state oxygen carrier to an oxidation state having less binding affinity for oxygen, thereby releasing free oxygen into the carrier fluid and produ

Abstract: A method of improving the electrical characteristics of a thin film (1 or 9) formed on a substrate (3 or 11) by a Langmuir-Blodgett process. The method comprises immersing the film (1 or 9) in a fluid (5 or 13) and applying an electrical potential to the substrate (1 or 9) such that a self limiting electrochemical reaction within the fluid (5 or 13) causes any voids in the film (1 or 9) to be preferentially filled.

Abstract: Electrolytic cell and low-voltage method for sterilizing water. The electrolytic cell of the invention contains a cathode and an anode which produce oxidants to effect sterilization of contaminated water. The anode is made of a Group VIII metal or compound thereof which acts as a catalyst to produce oxidants. In the method of the invention, a salt solution is introduced into the electrolytic cell, oxidants are produced in solution, and the anode effluent stream is introduced directly into the water to be treated.

Abstract: An electrolytic method for the simultaneous preparation of a diaryliodonium salt and an alkoxide salt comprises adding to the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell, comprised of an anode, a first electrolytic solution comprising an aromatic compound, an iodoaromatic compound, a solvent and a first organic salt; adding to the cathode compartment of the cell, comprised of a cathode, a second electrolytic solution comprising a hydroxyalkyl compound and a second organic salt; and applying to the anode and the cathode an electric potential, to form diaryliodonium salt in the anode compartment and an alkoxide salt in the cathode compartment.Esters of an aromatic acid are prepared by carbonylating an admixture of the diaryliodonium salt and the alkoxide salt by the addition of carbon monoxide thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the electrochemical oxidation of organic products at a lead-silver anode in acid medium, in which process the organic products used are alkyl-substituted heterocycles and in which process a lead-silver anode with 2-10% (wt) silver is used.

Abstract: Silver is recovered from photographic emulsion by a process comprising oxidizing whereby the emulsion is oxidized with an acid solution of 10-26 percent ferric chloride at a pH of up to about 2.

Abstract: The molds infesting a given soil are extirpated by the flow of a pulsating direct current of not less than 50 mA to prevent a farm product from diseases causable by the aforementioned molds.