Method for preparing organic and inorganic hydroxides and alkoxides by electrolysis
AssigneeSachem, Inc.
InventorsAllen I. Bard, Hossein Sharifian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrolytic process for making hydroxides or alkoxides from the corresponding halide salts in a divided cell where the desired compounds are formed in the catholyte while the accumulation of halogen in the anolyte is effectively prevented throught the action of a reducing agent added to the acidic anolyte.
Claims32
A process for preparing organic and inorganic hydroxides or alkoxides from the corresponding halide salts in an electrolytic cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and an anion selective membrane or a nonionic divider separating said compartments, said process comprising the steps of
- (A) charging to the catholyte compartment, a mixture comprising an organic or inorganic halide salt and a liquid selected from water, organic liquids which do not react with hydroxide ions, or a mixture thereof provided that sufficient water or alcohol is present in the catholyte mixture during electrolysis to form the desired hydroxide or alkoxide;
- (B) charging to the anolyte compartment, a mixture having a pH of from about 1 to about 7 and comprising a reducing agent which is capable of reducing halogen or being oxidized at the anode and a liquid selected from water, organic liquids, or mixtures thereof;
- (C) subjecting the catholyte mixture and the anolyte mixture to electrolysis by passing a current through the electrolytic cell to produce the hydroxide or the alkoxide in the catholyte compartment, whereby the accumulation of halogen in the anolyte is substantially prevented by the action of the reducing agent;
- and
- (D) recovering the organic or inorganic hydroxide or alkoxide from the catholyte compartment.
A process for preparing organic and inorganic hydroxides, from the corresponding halide salts in an electrolytic cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and an anion selective membrane or a nonionic divider separating said compartments, said process comprising the steps of
- (A) charging to the catholyte compartment, an aqueous mixture containing an organic or inorganic halide salt;
- (B) charging to the anolyte compartment, an aqueous acidic mixture containing a reducing agent which is capable of reducing halogen and/or being oxidized at the anode;
- (C) subjecting the catholyte mixture and the anolyte mixture to electrolysis by passing a current through the electrolytic cell to produce the organic or inorganic hydroxide in the catholyte compartment, whereby the accumulation of halogen in the anolyte is substantially prevented by the action of the reducing agent;
- and
- (D) recovering the organic or inorganic hydroxide from the catholyte compartment.
A process for preparing quaternary ammonium hydroxides, quaternary phosphonium hydroxides and tertiary sulfonium hydroxides from the corresponding halides in an electrolytic cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and an anion selective membrane or a nonionic divider separating said compartments, said process comprising the steps of
- (A) charging to the catholyte compartment, an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium halide;
- (B) charging to the anolyte compartment, an aqueous acidic mixture containing a reducing agent capable of reducing halogen or being oxidized at the anode;
- (C) subjecting the catholyte mixture and the anolyte mixture to electrolysis by passing a current through the electrolytic cell to produce quaternary ammonium hydroxide, quaternary phosphonium hydroxide or tertiary sulfonic hydroxide in the catholyte compartment, whereby the accumulation of halogen in the anolyte is substantially prevented by the action of the reducing agent;
- and
- (D) recovering the quaternary ammonium hydroxide, quaternary phosphonium hydroxide or tertiary sulfonium hydroxide from the catholyte compartment.
The process for preparing quaternary ammonium hydroxides from quaternary ammonium halides in an electrolytic cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and an anion selective membrane separating said compartments, said process comprising the steps of
- (A) charging to the catholyte compartment, an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium halide characterized by the formula ##STR5## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently alkyl or hydroxy alkyl groups containing from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and X is bromide or chloride;
- (B) charging to the anolyte compartment, an aqueous acidic solution having a pH of from about 3 to about 6.5 and containing an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium oxalate or formate;
- (C) subjecting the catholyte mixture and the anolyte mixture to electrolysis by passing a current through the electrolytic cell to form quaternary ammonium hydroxide in the catholyte compartment, whereby the accumulation of halogen in the anolyte is substantially prevented by the action of the reducing agent;
- and
- (D) recovering the quaternary ammonium hydroxide from the catholyte compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.