Vertical electrolyser having diaphragm sepg. anode from cathode - in which both anode and cathode are formed by continuous streams of mercury flowing under gravity

摘要

Anode and cathode compartments in the electrolyser are sepd. by a diaphragm and each electrode is formed by at least one stream or thread of mercury. The shell of the electrolyser can be straight-sided the compartments respectively filled with anolyte and catholyte being parallelepipedic in form, or it can be cylindrical. More than one anode and cathode compartments may be present in the shell. The mercury flows through spouts pierced with holes to divide the flow into threads. Several spouts may be interposed so that the mercury flows in cascade from one spout to the next below. The supports for the spouts may be provided with cavities for cooling or for the location of pumps. Two diaphragms may be used, side-by-side, with a different conducting liq. between them from both the anolyte and the catholyte, to ensure complete sepn. of the two electrolytes. The electrolyser can be used for electrochemical processes using mercury electrodes, partic. oxidation-reduction reactions. A larger anode surface is afforded and the boundary layer around the anode can be broken down, suppressing possible agitation.