Process for converting ferrous ions to ferric ions

Abstract

Enclosed herein is an apparatus for converting an ionic valence number which comprises a gas permeable membrane comprising a catalyst-supporting reaction layer and a hydrophobic gas permeable layer having fine pores; a solution chamber retaining an aqueous solution containing an ion, and the respective supply port and discharge port for the supply and the discharge of the aqueous solution containing the ion, which are located on the reaction layer side of the gas permeable membrane; and a gas chamber retaining an oxidizing gas or a reducing gas, and the respective supply port and discharge port for the supply and the discharge of the oxidizing or reducing gas, which are located on the gas permeable layer side of the gas permeable membrane. Another aspect of the invention is process for converting a ionic valence number which comprises supplying an aqueous solution containing an ion to the reaction layer side of a gas permeable membrane formed by joining a catalyst-supporting reaction layer with a gas permeable layer; supplying an oxidizing or a reducing gas to the gas permeable side; and converting the valence number of the ion in the aqueous solution containing the said ion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.