Chemical Engineering Studies on the Decomposition of Amalgam in a Packed Tower in the Chlor-caustic Industry

Part I. The kinetics of amalgam decomposition in the case of a local cell consisting of Na-Hg (Y)/NaOH aq. (X)/H₂-graphite, with emphasis on the hydrogen overpotential, chemical engineering considerations of the decomposition tower, and the design of the tower are described. These studies involve representations concerning the H.T.U. and the N.T.U. of the amalgam decomposition tower which differs from common packed towers where the diffusion process is controlling. Part. II. The amalgam decomposition tower is a kind of packed column. The height is given by the product of H.T.U. and N.T.U., where H.T.U. and N.T.U. are as follows: H.T.U.=1/K·M/S (1) N.T.U.=-∫y₀y₁·dy/E-πₕ⁰ (2) and 1/K=1/KᴀY+1/KH+1/KFᴷ≅1/KH+1/KFᴷ (3) Thus, the H.T.U. is, determined by the geometry which occurs between the graphite packings and the amalgam drops, and the N.T.U. is determined by the hydrogen overpotential of the graphite. Hence, the performance of the graphite packings may be estimated from these physical and electrochemical characteristics if they are established empirically

The Current Distribution in an Electrolytic Cell : Application of the Elliptic Integral to the Chemical Engineering

The state of the electrical field in an electrolytic cell cannot be explained completely by the electrostatic or electromagnetic theory, because in this field the chemical polarization always appears near the electrode surface. But we will neglect the effects of this polarization, and present the two-dimensional discussions on the forms of the electrolytic cell or field. The effects of the polarization can be introduced very easily by our previous research, so the following discussions will be directly useful from the point of view of the chemical or electrochemical engineering. In this paper, a) A Krebs Amalgam Type Chlorine Cell, b) The Graphite Anode with Many Grooves of a Horizontal Amalgam Type Chlorine Cell, and c) A Rectangular Electrolytic Cell are included

Studies on the Electrolysis of Sodium Sulfate Solution

Presented at The Indianapolis Meeting of The Electrochemical Society, May 3, 1961.The electrolysis of sodium sulfate solution by the 1500 amp. vertical mercury cell was investigated. Lead alloy containing 2% Ag and 1% Te was selected as the anode, and fine porous rubber sheet or blue asbestos cloth were used as the diaphragm. The concentrations of sulfuric acid and caustic soda obtained were 200-250 g/l H₂SO₄ and 30-40% NaOH, respectively, under the condition of 30 amp/dm² of current density by continuous operation. The terminal voltage was less than 5.0 volts and the current efficiency and the consumption of the anode were 90% and 2-3 mg/AH, respectively