Abstract: Methods, and various apparatus therefor, are disclosed for the electrolytic treatment of an acidic solution. Generally the method comprises: (a) providing an electrolytic cell, the cell comprising: (i) an anode chamber and an anode therein; (ii) a cathode chamber and a cathode therein; and (iii) a diaphragm. Usually the diaphragm is of a non-isotropic fibrous mat comprising 5-70 weight percent organic halocarbon polymer fiber in adherent combination with about 30-95 weight percent of finely divided inorganic particulate impacted into said fiber during fiber formation, the diaphragm having a weight per unit of surface area of about 3-12 kilograms per square meter. The method can continue by (b) introducing the acidic solution into the cell; (c) impressing a current on the anode and the cathode causing the migration of ions through the diaphragm; and (d) recovering a product of the electrolytic treatment from the anode chamber, or the cathode chamber, or from both chambers.

Abstract: A process is disclosed, as well as apparatus useful therefor, for continuously electroplating a strip of reticulated foam using multiple electroplating zones that each contain electroplating bath. In each zone there is a cathode and an anode. In at least one electroplating zone there is an insoluble anode, typically as the sole anode. In some of the electroplating zones soluble anodes may be used. As a first cathode, there can be provided a cathode roll outside of the electroplating bath. The reticulated foam is guided in the bath past the anodes, as well as past cathodes, e.g., including a cathode roll which may be positioned outside of the bath. The resulting electroplated foam emerging from the bath has an improved electroplate weight distribution and the process achieves enhanced efficiencies and economies of operation.

Abstract: Methods, and various apparatus therefor, are disclosed for the electrolytic treatment of an acidic solution. Generally the method comprises: (a) providing an electrolytic cell, the cell comprising: (i) an anode chamber and an anode therein; (ii) a cathode chamber and a cathode therein; and (iii) a diaphragm. Usually the diaphragm is of a non-isotropic fibrous mat comprising 5-70 weight percent organic halocarbon polymer fiber in adherent combination with about 30-95 weight percent of finely divided inorganic particulate impacted into said fiber during fiber formation, the diaphragm having a weight per unit of surface area of about 3-12 kilograms per square meter. The method can continue by (b) introducing the acidic solution into the cell; (c) impressing a current on the anode and the cathode causing the migration of ions through the diaphragm; and (d) recovering a product of the electrolytic treatment from the anode chamber, or the cathode chamber, or from both chambers.

Abstract: Methods, and various apparatus therefor, are disclosed for the electrolytic treatment of an acidic solution. Generally the method comprises: (a) providing an electrolytic cell, the cell comprising: (i) an anode chamber and an anode therein; (ii) a cathode chamber and a cathode therein; and (iii) a diaphragm. Usually the diaphragm is of a non-isotropic fibrous mat comprising 5-70 weight percent organic halocarbon polymer fiber in adherent combination with about 30-95 weight percent of finely divided inorganic particulate impacted into said fiber during fiber formation, the diaphragm having a weight per unit of surface area of about 3-12 kilograms per square meter. The method can continue by (b) introducing the acidic solution into the cell; (c) impressing a current on the anode and the cathode causing the migration of ions through the diaphragm; and (d) recovering a product of the electrolytic treatment from the anode chamber, or the cathode chamber, or from both chambers.

Abstract: A porous high surface area composite electroconductive catalytic material, particularly as electrocatalyst for electrolysis electrodes, comprises a porous pre-formed matrix which is a catalytic mixed crystal material of at least one platinum group metal oxide and at least one valve metal oxide throughout which a subsequently-added additional catalyst preferably consisting of at least one platinum group metal and/or oxide is dispersed by chemideposition in an oxidizing or reducing atmosphere preferably followed by an annealing post heat treatment. The porous matrix may be ruthenium-titanium oxide and the additional catalyst advantageously comprises at least two oxides of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium and iridium, other combinations being possible.

Abstract: An electrode having a lead base and a catalyst is manufactured by (a) compressing titanium sponge particles so as to consolidate them to a coherent porous layer, (b) applying the catalyst to the titanium sponge particles, and (c) fixing the layer of consolidated sponge particles to the lead base. The catalyst is formed on the titanium sponge particles before or after their consolidation to a coherent layer. This layer may be produced and fixed to the base in a single compressing and fixing step combining (a) and (c). Oxygen is anodically evolved at a reduced, stable potential by means of this electrode, so that it can be usefully applied as an anode in processes for electrowinning metals from acid electrolytes.

Abstract: A method of making a catalytic lead-based oxygen-evolving anode comprises catalytically activating titanium sponge particles larger than 300 microns by impregnating with a solution containing Mn and Ru compounds, in amounts corresponding to Mn/Ru in an atomic ratio between 70/30 and 90/10, and thermally converting the compounds to an electrocatalyst comprising Mn and Ru in oxide form. Catalytic Ti sponge particles with up to 3 wt % Ru are thus produced, which are then uniformly distributed on the surface of a lead anode base in an amount greater than 400 g/m.sup.2, pressed, and partly embedded, thereby firmly anchoring and electrically connecting them to the lead anode base. The catalytic lead-based anode thus produced operates with oxygen evolution on the catalytic particles at a reduced potential at which the lead base remains electrochemically inactive. It thereby operates with significant energy savings over an extended service life.

Abstract: An electrode for use in electrolytic processes comprises a base of film-forming metal such as titanium with an operative outer electrocatalytic surface which is an integral surface film of a compound of the titanium base, usually the oxide, incorporating a platinum-group metal electrocatalyst, preferably iridium, rhodium, palladium and/or ruthenium as metal or oxide. The surface film is formed by the application of a dilute solution of a thermodecomposable iridium, rhodium and/or ruthenium compound containing an agent such as HCl which attacks the titanium base and converts metal from the base into ions which are converted to the compound in a subsequent heating step. The concentrations of this agent and of the thermodecomposable compound and the number of applied layers are such that during heating the electrocatalyst formed from the decomposed compound is incorporated fully in the surface film formed from the base. The base is usually in sheet form, but may also be a powder.

Abstract: An electrode, especially for chlorine and hypochlorite production, comprises an electrocatalyst consisting of 22-55 mol % ruthenium oxide, 0.2-22 mol % palladium oxide and 44-77.8 mol % titanium oxide. The electrocatalyst may form a coating on a valve metal substrate and may be topcoated with a porous layer of titanium or tantalum oxide.

Abstract: A semi-conducting, stable polychelate coating is manufactured in situ on a conducting substrate providing metal coordination centers, by carrying out a controlled chelating reaction and thermal treatment on the substrate surface with a predetermined specific amount (X.sub.o) of tetranitrile compound per unit substrate area. The temperature and duration as well as this specific amount (X.sub.o) are selected from given ranges to form a uniform polychelate coatingbonded to the substrate surface.Titanium electrodes are provided with such polychelate coatings for different purposes. Electrodes with other metal substrates are further provided with such polychelate coatings.

Abstract: Used dimensionally stable electrodes having a valve-metal base and an originally conductive and electrocatalytic coating of e.g. ruthenium-titanium oxide are cleaned and activated by impregnation with a relatively dilute solution preferably containing only a decomposable platinum-group metal compound, followed by heating to enrich the old coating with platinum-group metal/oxide. A new outer electrocatalytic coating which is the same as or similar to the old coating is then applied on top.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrolytic process is provided with a mixed oxide interface between a titanium base and an outer coating. The mixed oxide is formed at said interface by means of titanium from the base and noble metal from a solution containing a predetermined amount of HCl which attacks the titanium base surface. Slow drying provides a metal chloride mixture which is thermally converted to said mixed oxide of titanium and noble metal in a given ratio, whereby to protect the titanium base from oxidation.An outer coating of manganese dioxide or lead dioxide is electroplated on the mixed oxide layer so as to provide an inexpensive electrode with improved resistance to oxidation.This electrode can be used for various processes where a high resistance to oxidation is required, e.g. as a manganese dioxide anode in a metal electrowinning process or as a lead dioxide anode for electroflotation or organic oxidation reactions.

Abstract: An electrode with an outer coating for effecting an electrolytic process is provided with a protective intermediate coating consisting of a conducting insoluble polymer network formed in situ on a titanium base and containing a small amount of finely dispersed platinum group metal catalyst.A method of manufacturing the electrode comprises applying to the titanium base several layers of a solution containing a polymer precursor and a platinum metal compound which are thermally converted to the protective polymer coating, on which the outer coating is formed, more particularly by electrodepositing manganese dioxide or lead dioxide.The polymeric intermediate coating serves to protect the titanium base from oxidation, and to more particularly provide stable electrode performance with economical use of precious metal.

Abstract: A catalytic electrode has an electrically conductive substrate such as titanium with a coating comprising a platinum-group metal catalyst finely dispersed in a matrix consisting of a semi-conducting polymer formed in situ on the substrate. The catalyst may be a platinum-group metal oxide such as iridium oxide formed in situ together with the semi-conducting polymer by the application of a uniform liquid mixture followed by a controlled heat treatment.The semi-conducting polymer is preferably formed from polyacrylonitrile, polybenzimidazo-pyrrolone or an adamantane based polybenzoxazole.

Abstract: An electrode for use in electrolytic processes comprises a substrate of film-forming metal such as titanium having a porous electrocatalytic coating comprising at least one platinum-group metal and/or oxide thereof possibly mixed with other metal oxides, in an amount of at least about 2 g/m.sup.2 of the platinum-group metal(s) per projected surface area of the substrate. Below the coating is a preformed barrier layer constituted by a surface oxide film grown up from the substrate. This preformed barrier layer has rhodium and/or iridium as metal or compound incorporated in the surface oxide film during formation thereof in an amount of up to 1 g/m.sup.2 (as metal) per projected surface area of the substrate.