Abstract:
A small portable electrolytic cell has an enclosed electrode in a compartment and an exposed electrode open to an electrolyte into which the cell is immersed. The cell is operable when immersed in aqueous liquid containing a chloride salt to generate chlorine or other oxidant when said exposed electrode is an anode, or to increase the pH of said liquid when said exposed electrode is a cathode.
Abstract:
A continuous electrolytic generator is disclosed having two sealed compartments, separated by a cation exchange membrane, having a cathode in one compartment, and an anode in the other. A bipolar electrode is positioned in the anode compartment between the cation exchange membrane and the anode. The bipolar electrode may be supported on the dividing wall spaced from the ion-exchange membrane. The bipolar membrane may also be supported on the anode on insulators in spaced relation thereto. The generator has exterior reservoirs for continuously circulating solutions to and from the anode and cathode compartments. A third reservoir receives make-up water and salt and is connected to supply brine to the exterior anode reservoir. The cell produces a mixture of oxidant gases containing chlorine, chlorine dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and possibly ozone, from the anode compartment which is connected to a gas collection and utilization system, e.g., a venturi in a flowing water line. The system includes a pressure switch, responsive to vacuum in the venturi, operable to energize the pumps circulating solutions from the exterior reservoirs only when water is flowing.
Abstract:
A method for conversion of comminuted cellulosic agricultural wastes into a form edible by ruminant animals comprises treating such wastes, e.g., straw, corn stalks and husks, cotton wastes, peanut shells, saw dust, etc. by spraying with an aqueous solution of a mixed oxidant gas, at a pH of about 11-12, to produce a total water content of less than 20%, a pH of about 11.4-11.7, and NaOH content of less than 5.0% in the waste. The mixed-oxidant gas is preferably produced by a gas generator comprising an electrolytic cell having an anode compartment, a bipolar electrode in the anode compartment, a cathode compartment and a membrane separating the compartments to permit only a limited flow of electrolyte therebetween. When a low salt concentration solution is electrolyzed in this cell, the output is a mixed oxidant gas containing chlorine and various oxygen-containing species. The gas generator which is preferred is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,681. The oxidant gas produced from dilute salt solutions contains chlorine, chlorine dioxide and other oxygen-containing gases. In alkaline solution, the mixed oxidant gases form a mixture of salts of the formula NaClO.sub.x, where x is 1-7. After a reaction time from several hours up to several days, the product obtained can be washed with water to substantially remove chemically combined lignins, while a fraction of the hollo-cellulose has been substantially hydrolyzed to sugars, and is a satisfactory feed for ruminant animals, being non-toxic and digestible.
Abstract:
An electrolytic generator is disclosed for use in treating water in swimming pools, baths, reservoirs, sewage, etc., and in bleaching chemical pulp. The generator is of the type consisting of two sealed compartments separated by an ion-permeable membrane and having a cathode in one compartment and an anode in the other. Hydrogen is evolved from the cathode compartment and a chlorine/chlorine dioxide mixture from the anode compartment. In this generator, an electrically neutral or bipolar electrode (one not connected in the anode-cathode circuit) is positioned adjacent to the anode or between the anode and the cathode adjacent to the ion-permeable membrane in the anode compartment. This electrolytic generator is characterized by a more rapid start up and generates a mixture of chlorine and chlorine dioxide at both the anode and the neutral electrode.
Abstract:
Sour natural gas, containing H.sub.2 S and organic sulfide contaminants, is contacted with a sweetening composition comprising an aqueous solution of a substantially equimolar mixture of OCl and HO.sub.2. (preferably NaOCl and NaOOH) for a time sufficient to oxidize the sulfides to an odorless form. The solution has a pH of 9.0-10.5, an oxidation normality of 0.001-0.1. The solution may be produced by mixing Cl.sub.2 into a dilute aqueous solution of NaOH at about pH 10.5 until the pH reaches a level of about 9.5-10.5, or produced electrochemically in a diaphragm cell having a bipolar electrode in the same compartment as the anode, collecting the effluent gas from the cell and absorbing said effluent gas into a dilute aqueous solution of NaOH at about pH 9.5-10.5. The treatment may be run as an adjunct to a metal chelate redox treatment to improve the oxidation by the redox catalyst and to improve the catalyst regeneration. The treatment may be run in batch, in a scrubbing tower, or in-line in a flowing gas stream with solids removal provided.
Abstract:
An electrolytic generator is disclosed for use in treating water in swimming pools, baths, reservoirs, sewage, etc., and in bleaching chemical pulp. The generator is of the type consisting of two sealed compartments separated by an ion-permeable membrane and having a cathode in one compartment and an an anode in the other. Hydrogen is evolved from the cathode compartment and a chlorine/chlorine dioxide mixture from the anode compartment. In this generator, an electrically neutral or bipolar electrode (one not connected in the anode-cathode circuit) is positioned adjacent to the anode or between the anode and the cathode adjacent to the ion-permeable membrane in the anode compartment. This electrolytic generator is characterized by a more rapid start up and generates a mixture of chlorine and chlorine dioxide at both the anode and the neutral electrode.
Abstract:
A method for conversion of comminuted cellulosic agricultural wastes into a form edible by ruminant animals comprises treating such wastes, e.g., straw, corn stalks and husks, cotton wastes, peanut shells, saw dust, grains (corn, sorghum), etc. by treating with an aqueous solution of a mixed oxidant gas, at a pH of about 7-9, to produce a total water content of less than 20%, a pH of about 7.5-8.3, and NaOH content of less than 5.0% in the waste. The mixed-oxidant gas is produced by a novel electrolytic cell having an anode compartment, cathode compartment and membrane separating the compartments to permit a limited flow of electrolyte therebetween. The anode compartment contains a plurality of anodes and bi-polar electrodes supported in a substantially co-planar relation spaced laterally from each other. The anodes are electrically connected and the bi-polar electrodes are insulated therefrom. An alternate embodiment uses a triple anode comprising a titanium sheet having a coating of the type used on chlorine-producing anodes and flat titanium mesh sheets having a coating of the type used on oxygen-producing anodes on opposite sides thereof supported by insulated spacers. A salt solution electrolyzed in this cell produces the above-mentioned mixed oxidant gas which when absorbed in alkaline solution forms a mixture of oxidant species. The treated product obtained is a satisfactory feed for ruminant animals, being non-toxic and digestible.
Abstract:
A method for conversion of comminuted cellulosic agricultural wastes into a form edible by ruminant animals comprises treating such wastes, e.g., straw, corn stalks and husks, cotton wastes, peanut shells, saw dust, grains (corn, sorghum), etc. by treating with an aqueous solution of a mixed oxidant gas, at a pH of about 7-9, to produce a total water content of less than 20%, a pH of about 7.5-8.3, and NaOH content of less than 5.0% in the waste. The mixed-oxidant gas is produced by a novel electrolytic cell having an anode compartment, cathode compartment and membrane separating the compartments to permit a limited flow of electrolyte therebetween. The anode compartment contains a plurality of anodes and bi-polar electrodes supported in a substantially co-planar relation spaced laterally from each other. The anodes are electrically connected and the bi-polar electrodes are insulated therefrom. An alternate embodiment uses a triple anode comprising a titanium sheet having a coating of the type used on chlorine-producing anodes and flat titanium mesh sheets having a coating of the type used on oxygen-producing anodes on opposite sides thereof supported by insulated spacers. A salt solution electrolyzed in this cell produces the above-mentioned mixed oxidant gas which when absorbed in alkaline solution forms a mixture of oxidant species. The treated product obtained is a satisfactory feed for ruminant animals, being non-toxic and digestible.
Abstract:
A method for conversion of comminuted cellulosic agricultural wastes into a form edible by ruminant animals comprises treating such wastes, e.g., straw, corn husks, cotton wastes, peanut shells, saw dust, etc. by spraying with an aqueous solution of a mixed oxidant gas, at a pH of about 11-12, to produce a water content of less than 40% and a pH of about 11.4-11.7 in the waste. The mixed-oxidant gas is preferably produced by a gas generator comprising an electrolytic cell having an anode compartment, a cathode compartment and a membrane separating the compartments to permit only a limited flow of electrolyte therebetween. When a low salt concentration solution is electrolyzed in this cell, the output is a mixed oxidant gas containing chlorine and various oxygen-containing species. Another gas generator which may be used is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,681. The oxidant gas produced from dilute salt solutions contains chlorine, chlorine dioxide and other oxygen-containing gases. After a reaction time from several hours up to several days, the product obtained is essentially free from chemically combined lignins and has been substantially hydrolyzed to sugars, and is a satisfactory feed for ruminant animals. Alternatively, the wastes may be treated with aqueous caustic to the desired pH and water content and the mixed oxidant gas circulated through the waste and absorbed therein.
Abstract:
An electrolytic cell is disclosed comprising two or more compartments containing an anode, cathode, and one or more electrically neutral bi-polar electrodes. These cells can be utilized as batch or flowing cells. Increased capacity and lower maintenance is obtained using a diaphragm separating the compartments. This diaphragm is a special, finely woven synthetic non-ionic fabric having a low permeability. The preferred diaphragm is of Kanecaron modacrylic fiber. The bi-polar electrodes may be any of several configurations and act as a charged electrical component in a solution. When bi-polar electrodes are used in an anode compartment of a chlorine electrolytic cell, oxygen species are produced which blend with the chlorine species of a standard anode reaction to produce Cl.sub.2, ClO.sub.2 and oxygen species. When used in a cathode compartment, bi-polar electrode configurations serve to cool the caustic due to the agitation occuring on the bi-polars as well as increase buildup of caustic concentration. The diaphragm material is superior to NAFION in maintaining separation between two electrolytes of different viscosities and less back migration has been observed.