Apparatus and method for conducting electrolysis and electrode unit for such an apparatus

Apparatus for conducting an electrolytic process, comprising:

• a container (2;53) having a container interior (3;54) for accommodating at least one electrolyte;
• an array (26;77) of spaced-apart first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b), arranged in the container (2;53);
• at least one second electrode (7a,b;58a,b;79), arranged with at least part of a surface thereof exposed to at least part of the container interior (3;54) for accommodating at least one of the at least one electrolytes;
• and
• a current supply system for causing electrical current to flow via the second electrode(s) (7a,b;58a,b;79) and major surfaces of the first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) through the at least one electrolyte by establishing potential differences between major surfaces of the first electrode (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) on the one hand and the second electrodes (7a,b;58a,b;79) on the other hand, such that the first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) have an opposite polarity to the polarities of the second electrodes (7a,b;58a,b;79),
• wherein the array (26;77) of first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) includes at least one end electrode (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b) interposed between one of the second electrodes (7a,b;58a,b;79) and all of the other first electrodes (6a-d;38a,b,42;57a-f) of the array (26;77) on the other hand, and
• wherein, in addition to the end electrode(s) (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b), the array (26;77) of first electrodes includes at least one first electrode (6a-d;38a,b,42;57a-f) other than an end electrode (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b), wherein
• the apparatus is configured to establish potentials at the major surfaces of at least the end electrode(s) (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b) that differ from those at the major surfaces of the first electrodes (6a-d;38a,b,42;57a-f) in the array (26;77) other than the end electrode(s) (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b) by being closer to respective potentials of the second electrode(s) (7a,b;58a,b;79).