Abstract: An electrolyzer is provided with a vessel containing an electrolyte and in which a lower temperature portion and a higher temperature portion are respectively defined, and with stirring devices or the like for forming circular flows of the electrolyte within the lower and higher temperature portions respectively and for circulating the electrolyte between the lower and higher temperature portions to permit the electrolysis to be carried out.

Abstract: The advanced pressure electrolysis cell-(APEC Project) combines a conventional electrolysis function with the applying of external pressure on the enclosed water/electrolyte for accelerated gas passage through the permeable tubular electrode walls.The key feature of the P/E cell unit is in combining the usual electrolysis electrodes with porous permeable metal to allow controlled gas passage through the electrode tubes under a pressure differential between the electrolyte zone and the gas passage zone.A hydrophobic plastic coating is required over the porous electrode tubes to prevent water seepage, and minimize pore clogging due to the pressurized electrolyte.The electrodes may be made in the form of tubes, discs or plates to allow for the construction of various forms of cell configuration.A low frequency vibratory input is provided for the cell/unit to give a "sieving effect" to the gas molecules, as they permeate through the electrode walls.

Abstract: An electroplating device for partial plating of items in continuous transit through a plating bath. The bath includes an enclosure having slots for movement of the articles to be plated lengthwise of the bath. A cross flow of treatment liquid is maintained in the constant level bath through the provision of flow directing vanes, the flow being provided by a treatment liquid circulation pump.

Abstract: An improved electrolytic cell for use in the continuous hydroelectrometallurgical production of a metal by the electrolytic deposition of the metal on the surface of suspended seed particles of pure metal comprising a vertical cylindrical cell comprising an upper anode zone including a horizontal anode and a lower cathode zone including a horizontal network cathode, said network cathode partitioning the cathode zone into an upper and a lower part, and a stirrer positioned below said network cathode. Thus, the seed particles are maintained in a stable state of suspension in the electrolyte in the upper part of the cathode zone, where they are electronegatively charged by their collision with the network cathode, with the consequence that the electrolysis is carried out with extreme effectiveness.

Abstract: A silver recovery apparatus for use in conjunction with photographic development systems acting to remove metallic silver from the hypo bath. The present device includes an electrolytic cell within a closed chamber through which the hypo bath is bypassed. The silver contaminated hypo solution is passed through the electrolytic chamber with a uniform velocity and is distributed uniformly over an extended cathode surface without any moving parts within the chamber. This uniformity of velocity and distribution causes maximum deposition of silver onto the cathode so that the hypo solution returning to the development and fixing process is considerably rejuvenated and continues to operate at high efficiency.

Abstract: An improved metal recovery unit for recovering metal from metal-laden liquids by electrolysis. The metal recovery unit comprises container means including a tubular cathode defining an upright substantially cylindrical wall having a top end closed by cover means and a bottom end closed by base means. In one embodiment, metal-laden liquid is introduced into the container means through a first opening in the cover means disposed generally adjacent the anode. Metal-depleted fluid is withdrawn from the container means through a further opening in the cover means at a location spaced apart from the first opening. An elongated anode is concentrically disposed within the cathode.

Abstract: In an electrolysis system capable of producing particulate crystalline product having limited adherence to the cathodes, a process and apparatus for the continuous recovery of said product directly from the electrolytic cell tank substantially uncontaminated by adhering electrolyte comprising the agitation of the electrolyte to effectively influence and contribute to the control of the crystalline product size and density as well as the structural competence of the dendrites and to cause said product to separate from the cathodes, the collection of the particulate crystalline product on a conveyor transport system located in the bottom part of the electrolytic cell tank, the continuous removal of the particulate crystalline product from the electrolytic cell tank by means of the conveyor transport system, and the transportation of the crystalline particulate product through a washing zone prior to its removal from the electrolytic cell tank to substantially displace the electrolyte liquor from the particulate

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for recovering a metal from a solution has a diaphragm between a cathode and an anode. The diaphragm is supported by a support frame composed of a number of support columns. At least two of the support columns are made hollow in structure. A solution supply port is provided in at least one of the hollow support columns and a solution take-out port is provided in each of the remaining hollow support columns.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell comprising a rectangular tank divided into a plurality of adjacent compartments by a plurality of spaced apart parallel electrode plates. The outboard electrodes may form one pair of the opposite tank walls. Alternate electrodes are of opposite polarity. The intermediate electrodes terminate short of the tank ends so that the slurry or solution may pass around both ends of the electrode. An agitator is mounted in each compartment. The agitators are shaped and positioned to direct a predetermined volume of slurry against each electrode, the amount being directed against the cathode and anode respectively may be equal or unequal depending on the metal being recovered and the chemical reaction required at the electrode.

Abstract: A system for optimizing current density versus voltage across a device for electroplating recoverablesilver from expended photographic solutions by controlling voltage applied across the electrodes of the device as a controlled function of current flow through the device, current being sensed in terms of voltage across a resistance in series with the device, and that voltage, after comparison with reference voltages being employed to control a voltage regulator in the circuit between a source of dc voltage and the electrodes. The cathode of the device is a removable flexible stainless steel cylinder, and is contained in a cylindrical tank of larger diameter than that of the cathode. The anode is a hollow graphite cylinder on which pivots an arm bearing two stirring paddles which is rotated from interiorly of the anode by means of a magnetic clutch.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for electrolytically producing very uniform coatings of a desired material on discrete microsized particles. Agglomeration or bridging of the particles during the deposition process is prevented by imparting a sufficiently random motion to the particles that they are not in contact with a powered cathode for a time sufficient for such to occur.

Abstract: To prevent the formation of internal short circuits between electrodes of a rechargeable electrochemical cell, the electrolyte is maintained in continuous motion at least during charging when, in the case of an air-depolarized cell with a positive oxygen electrode and a negative zinc electrode, an air stream is introduced into a cylindrical cell casing through a multiplicity of orifices in a generally tangential direction and at increasing distances from the housing axis to impart rotation about that axis to the liquid; upon the subsequent discharge, a valve redirects the air stream into a compartment separated from the electrolyte by the oxygen electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus for elctrolytically removing silver from a spent photographic processing solution. A thin flexible cathode sheet is removably fitted within the inside periphery of a tank which receives the solution. A lid unit is removably secured over the tank and rotatably supports an anode assembly extending within the tank. A power unit is removably secured on the lid unit and carries a motor for driving the anode assembly to circulate the solution. An electric power conducting circuit in the power unit is automatically connected to the anode assembly and the cathode when the power unit is secured.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical process wherein an electrolyte is passed through one electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell, said one electrode compartment comprising a particulate electrode and being separated from a second electrode compartment of said electrochemical cell containing a counter-electrode by a separator having an ion-permeable wall inclined away from the vertical and towards the particulate electrode.

Abstract: Colloids are precipitated from an aqueous suspension by electrolysis techniques in which a flocculation cell is provided with a soluble anode formed preferably of multi-valent material and wherein the cathode comprises a metal cylinder having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end and in which the anode is coaxially disposed in insulated relation to the cathode so that an aqueous suspension may be caused to flow through the cell in such manner as thoroughly and systematically to wash the inner surface of the cathode and the outer surface of the anode by following a generally helical path which inhibits formation of large clusters of hydrogen and oxygen gas established by the application of an electric potential across the cathode and anode. The pH of the aqueous solution must be controlled at a substantially neutral value and the anode preferably is formed of soluble aluminum, iron, magnesium or other multi-valent metal.

Abstract: A pair of tubular air-sparging elements is provided cooperatively associated with a cathode, each of said tubular elements being disposed at opposite faces of the cathode at the bottom of said cathode and running the entire length of said bottom, each of the air-sparging elements comprising an inner tube disposed within an outer foraminous sleeve of larger diameter, said inner tube having a plurality of air emitting orifices disposed along the length thereof, such that air passing through said inner tube as coarse bubbles emerges as fine bubbles through the foraminous sleeve to form a uniform curtain of air bubbles along the plating faces of said cathode which inhibits the formation of rough surface deposits.

Abstract: Silver is electrolytically recovered from photographic solutons, such as spent hypo, by feeding such a solution to a precollecting or measuring vessel where the solution collects until a predetermined volume has been received, at which time it is automatically dispensed, by a self-triggering siphon, into an electrolysis chamber of larger volume than the pre-collecting vessel and direct current is automatically turned on for a predetermined flow between an anode and a cathode in the chamber to plate out the silver on the cathode. An agitator, preferably a magnetic agitator, is also automatically energized to keep the solution homogeneously mixed during electrolysis, for maximum silver recovery efficiency.

Abstract: A fixed, hollow, cylindrical, open ended electrically conductive cathode concentrically surrounds a hollow, cylindrical, electrically conductive anode. The anode is fixed upon an electrically conductive axle so as to allow the anode and axle to rotate inside the cathode. Electrically non-conductive brushes are mounted on the anode and rotate therewith, sweeping over the radially inner surface of the cathode. A water inlet housing at one end of the cathode and a water exhaust housing at the other end of the cathode cooperate to divert a stream of water in which salt has been dissolved between the anode and the cathode, the housings also supporting the conductive axle and allowing it to rotate. An electric motor rotates the axle.

Abstract: An electroplating method is disclosed and includes the rotation of a substrate, submerged within an electrolytic solution, under the application of ultrasonic waves, and the ejection of the electrolytic solution containing bubbles in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the substrate. The electroplating apparatus for electroplating the substrate submerged within the electrolytic solution disposed within an electrolytic cell applies ultrasonic waves to the solution and additionally includes a driving device for rotating the substrate, a bubble generator for entraining bubbles within the electrolytic solution, and an ejector for ejecting the electrolytic solution containing the bubbles generated by means of the bubble generator in a direction which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the substrate.