Cell utilizing atmospheric oxygen as depolarizer

In an electrochemical cell using an aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide as the electrolyte and atmospheric oxygen activated by a catalytic cathode as the depolarizer wherein atompsheric air contacts said catalytic cathode, said cell comprising an anode in addition to said catalytic cathode and alkali metal hydroxide electrolyte retained in a housing having air inlet means for permitting atmospheric air contact with said catalytic cathode, the improvement wherein scrubber means for removing carbon dioxide from the atmospheric air are constructed and arranged between said air inlet means to said cell and said catalytic cathode whereby atmospheric air contacts are scrubber means before contacting said catalytic cathode;

• said scrubber means including a material which reacts with carbon dioxide to release water, and an element for retaining said material, said scrubber means being so constructed or arranged within said cell to preclude wetting out of said catalytic cathode with said water of reaction without exertion of an external pressure on the air fed to said cell or on the electrolyte of said cell.