Method and apparatus for synthesizing anhydrous HNO.sub.3
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsClifford L. Coon, Jackson E. Harrar, Richard K. Pearson, Raymond R. McGuire
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for electrochemically synthesizing anhydrous HNO.sub.3 from an aqueous solution of HNO.sub.3 includes oxidizing a solution of N.sub.2 O.sub.4 /aqueous HNO.sub.3 at an anode, while maintaining a controlled potential between the N.sub.2 O.sub.4 /aqueous HNO.sub.3 solution and the anode. A potential of about 1.80V vs. SCE is preferred. Anhydrous or aqueous HNO.sub.3 may be disposed at the cathode within the electrochemical cell. Aqueous HNO.sub.3 having a water content of up to about 12% by weight is utilized to synthesize anhydrous HNO.sub.3.
Claims15
A method of dehydrating aqueous HNO.sub.3, comprising:
- providing an electrochemical cell including an anode disposed in an anode compartment of said cell, and a cathode disposed in a cathode compartment, said anode and cathode being operatively connected to a power source;
- disposing a solution of N.sub.2 O.sub.4 and aqueous HNO.sub.3 in said anode compartment;
- applying and maintaining a controlled potential of about 1.35 to 2.00 V vs SCE between said N.sub.2 O.sub.4 /aqueous HNO.sub.3 solution and said anode;
- and
- forming N.sub.2 O.sub.5 in anhydrous HNO.sub.3 within said anode compartment.
An apparatus for electrochemically synthesizing anhydrous HNO.sub.3 from a solution of aqueous HNO.sub.3, comprising:
- means for housing a solution of N.sub.2 O.sub.4 and a solution of aqueous HNO.sub.3 ;
- a power source;
- an anode disposed in an anode compartment of said housing means, said anode being operatively connected to said N.sub.2 O.sub.4 and aqueous HNO.sub.3 solutions and to said power source;
- a cathode disposed in a cathode compartment of said housing means and operatively connected to said power source, said cathode compartment housing a solution of aqueous HNO.sub.3 ;
- and
- means for maintaining a controlled potential between said N.sub.2 O.sub.4 and aqueous HNO.sub.3 solution disposed in said anode compartment and said anode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.