Method for extending cathode life
AssigneeOccidental Chemical Corporation
InventorsTilak V. Bommaraju, Krishnan Viswanathan
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Abstract
A method is provided for extending the life of transition metal-based cathodes used in chlor-alkali diaphragm cells by adding a small amount of a reducing agent, such as Na.sub.2 SO.sub.3 or urea, to the electrolytic solution during periods of interrupted current flow to the cell. The reducing agent reacts with the sodium hypochlorite which is dissolved in the electrolytic solution to prevent the oxidation, and hence dissolution, of the transition metal in the cathode coating.
Claims11
A method for inhibiting the dissolution of nickel-containing cathodes for use in chlor-alkali diaphragm cells comprising adding an effective amount of an alkali metal sulfite to the electrolyte of said cell during or preceding periods of interrupted current flow to the cell.
A method for inhibiting the dissolution of transition metal-containing cathodes for use in chlor-alkali diaphragm cells comprising adding an effective amount of urea to the electrolyte of said cell during or preceding periods of interrupted current flow to the cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.