Title of Invention	A DIVIDED CELL FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER
Abstract	A divided cell for the electrolysis of water comprises an anode chamber provided with an anode and containing an anolyte; a cathode chamber provided with a cathode and containing a catholyte, said chambers being divided by a separator disc characterised in that the said disc is a carbon coated m icroporous glass sintered disc obtained by the imm ersion of the disc in a saturated solution of sucrose in water along with less than 1 % by weight of ammonium nitrate; by removal of excess solution by washing with deionised water; and by heating of the disc in an oven for about 3 -4 hours at about 150 -200 degree C.; and further characterised in that the anode chamber contains an alkali anolyte and the cathode chamber contains an acid catholyte.

Title of Invention

A DIVIDED CELL FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER

Abstract

A divided cell for the electrolysis of water comprises an anode chamber provided with an anode and containing an anolyte; a cathode chamber provided with a cathode and containing a catholyte, said chambers being divided by a separator disc characterised in that the said disc is a carbon coated m icroporous glass sintered disc obtained by the imm ersion of the disc in a saturated solution of sucrose in water along with less than 1 % by weight of ammonium nitrate; by removal of excess solution by washing with deionised water; and by heating of the disc in an oven for about 3 -4 hours at about 150 -200 degree C.; and further characterised in that the anode chamber contains an alkali anolyte and the cathode chamber contains an acid catholyte.

Full Text	This invetion relates to a divided cell for the electrolysis of water. A divided cell for the electrolysis of water is known. This cell consists of two compartments one being the anode chamber containing the anolyte and the anode and the other chamber being the cathode chamber contain mg the cathotyte and the cathode. In the known divided cells, the anolyte and the catholyte in the two chambers are the same. In other words, there is only one electrolyte used in both the chambers. In the case of this invention, however, the electrolytes in the two chambers are different In the known divided cells, the anode and the cathode chambers are provided with a separator, such as a polymer separator membrane, usually made of "NAFIOK", which enables the passage of electric current from one chamber to another, but which prevents any passage of electrolyte from chamber to chamber. In this invention, the separator used is a glass sintered micro-porous disc specially surface treated to fill the pores thus preventing any passage of the electrolyte from one chamber to the other of the cell, while enabling the passage of current from chamber to chamber of the cell. The disc aforesaid is sturdy and with standsvhigher pressures within the cell than the membranes of the known divided celts. This disc is more efficient than the separator membranes known to the art. This invention proposes a divided cell for the electrolysis of water and for the production of hydrogen and oxygen more efficiently than the known divided cells. The vided cell proposed herein allows the electrolysis of water at substantially lower potentiate thn the theoretical potential of 1.23 Volts. In the present industrial practice electrolysis takes place at about 1.75 volts whereas die divided cell proposed herein achieves decomposition potentials, for example, of 1 volt and less, as will be clear from the following description. All this works out greater efficiency and lesser energy consumption. The divided cell for the electrolysis of water, according to this invention, comprises an anode chamber provided with an anode and containing an anolyte; a cathode chamber provided with a cathode and containing a catholyte, said chambers being divided by a separator disc characterised in that the said disc is a carbon coated microporous glass sintered disc obtained by the immersion of the disc in a saturated solution of sucrose in water along with less than 1 % by weight of ammonium nitrate; by removal of excess solution by washing with deionised water; and by heating of the disc m an oven for about 3 - 4 hours at about 150-200 degree C; and forther characterised in that the anode chamber contains an alkali anolyte and the cathode chamber contains an acid catholyte. Tables I and II herein below illustrate, respectively, statistics of the known divided cell and the divided cell proposed herein. It will be seen that the decomposition potential m the known divided cell is greater than that of the divided cell proposed herein. It will also be seen while the electrolyte in the known divided cell is the same m both chambers, the divided cell proposed herein has different electrolytes m the two chambers. The material of which the electrodes are made and the electrolyte to be used are known to the art and ere determined by the requirements of a specific application both in the case of this invention and in the case of the known art; however, as already stated, m the case of this mvention, the two chambers contain different electrolytes (unlike in the case of the known divided cells which contain a common electrolyte) and this contrubutes to the better performance of the divided cell proposed herein. Figs. 1 and 2 of the acompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, embodiments of single on it and multiple unit divided cells according to this invention. industrial effluents by electrolysis at substantially lower costs thin possible with known electrolysis apparstus. Tnble I: Water decomposition potential with common electrolyte Table II: Water decomposition potential in a divided cell with different electrolytes We Clam. 1. A divided celt for the electrolysis of witer comprises an anode chamber provided with an anode and containing an anolyte; a cathode chamber provided with a cathode and containmg a catholyte. said chambers being divided by a separator disc characterised in that the said disc is a carbon coated microporons glass smtered disc obtained by the unmersion of the disc in a satnrated solution of sucrose in water- along with less than 1 % by weight of ammonium nitrate; by removal of excess solution by washing with deionised water; and by heating of the disc m an oven for about 3 • 4 hours at about 150 - 200 degree C; and further characterised in that the anode chamber contains an alkali anolyte and the cathode chamber contains an acid catholyte. 2. A divided cell as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the disc is heated man air oven. 3. A divided cell for the electrolysis of water substantially as herein described and illustrated. Dated this the 6th day of October 2003 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Full Text

This invetion relates to a divided cell for the electrolysis of water.
A divided cell for the electrolysis of water is known. This cell consists of two compartments one being the anode chamber containing the anolyte and the anode and the other chamber being the cathode chamber contain mg the cathotyte and the cathode. In the known divided cells, the anolyte and the catholyte in the two chambers are the same. In other words, there is only one electrolyte used in both the chambers. In the case of this invention, however, the electrolytes in the two chambers are different
In the known divided cells, the anode and the cathode chambers are provided with a separator, such as a polymer separator membrane, usually made of "NAFIOK", which enables the passage of electric current from one chamber to another, but which prevents any passage of electrolyte from chamber to chamber.
In this invention, the separator used is a glass sintered micro-porous disc specially surface treated to fill the pores thus preventing any passage of the electrolyte from one chamber to the other of the cell, while enabling the passage of current from

chamber to chamber of the cell. The disc aforesaid is sturdy and with standsvhigher pressures within the cell than the membranes of the known divided celts. This disc is more efficient than the separator membranes known to the art. This invention proposes a divided cell for the electrolysis of water and for the production of hydrogen and oxygen more efficiently than the known divided cells. The vided cell proposed herein allows the electrolysis of water at substantially lower potentiate thn the theoretical potential of 1.23 Volts. In the present industrial practice electrolysis takes place at about 1.75 volts whereas die divided cell proposed herein achieves decomposition potentials, for example, of 1 volt and less, as will be clear from the following description. All this works out
greater efficiency and lesser energy consumption. The divided cell for the electrolysis of water, according to this invention, comprises an anode chamber provided with an anode and containing an anolyte; a cathode chamber provided with a cathode and containing a catholyte, said chambers being divided by a separator disc characterised in that the said disc is a carbon coated microporous glass sintered disc obtained by the immersion of the disc in a saturated solution of sucrose in water along with less than 1 % by weight of ammonium nitrate; by removal of excess solution by washing with deionised water; and by heating of the disc m an oven for about 3 - 4 hours at about 150-200 degree C; and forther

characterised in that the anode chamber contains an alkali anolyte and the cathode chamber contains an acid catholyte.
Tables I and II herein below illustrate, respectively, statistics of the known divided cell and the divided cell proposed herein. It will be seen that the decomposition potential m the known divided cell is greater than that of the divided cell proposed herein. It will also be seen while the electrolyte in the known divided cell is the same m both chambers, the divided cell proposed herein has different electrolytes m the two chambers.
The material of which the electrodes are made and the electrolyte to be used are known to the art and ere determined by the requirements of a specific application both in the case of this invention and in the case of the known art; however, as already stated, m the case of this mvention, the two chambers contain different electrolytes (unlike in the case of the known divided cells which contain a common electrolyte) and this contrubutes to the better performance of the divided cell proposed herein.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the acompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, embodiments of single on it and multiple unit divided cells according to this invention.

industrial effluents by electrolysis at substantially lower costs thin possible with known electrolysis apparstus.

Tnble I: Water decomposition potential with common electrolyte

Table II: Water decomposition potential in a divided cell with different electrolytes

We Clam.
1. A divided celt for the electrolysis of witer comprises an
anode chamber provided with an anode and containing an
anolyte; a cathode chamber provided with a cathode and
containmg a catholyte. said chambers being divided by a
separator disc characterised in that the said disc is a carbon
coated microporons glass smtered disc obtained by the
unmersion of the disc in a satnrated solution of sucrose in
water- along with less than 1 % by weight of ammonium
nitrate; by removal of excess solution by washing with
deionised water; and by heating of the disc m an oven for
about 3 • 4 hours at about 150 - 200 degree C; and further
characterised in that the anode chamber contains an alkali
anolyte and the cathode chamber contains an acid catholyte.
2. A divided cell as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the disc is
heated man air oven.
3. A divided cell for the electrolysis of water substantially as
herein described and illustrated.
Dated this the 6th day of October 2003 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Documents:

0810-che-2003 complete specification as granted.pdf

810-che-2003-claims duplicate.pdf

810-che-2003-claims original.pdf

810-che-2003-correspondnece-others.pdf

810-che-2003-correspondnece-po.pdf

810-che-2003-description(complete) duplicate.pdf

810-che-2003-description(complete) original.pdf

810-che-2003-drawings.pdf

810-che-2003-form 1.pdf

810-che-2003-form 19.pdf

810-che-2003-form 26.pdf

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Patent Number

199098

Indian Patent Application Number

810/CHE/2003

PG Journal Number

13/2007

Publication Date

30-Mar-2007

Grant Date

31-Jan-2007

Date of Filing

06-Oct-2003

Name of Patentee

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Applicant Address

IIT P.O. CHENNAI 600 036,

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	RAM PRASAD VISWANATH	INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, IIT P.O. CHENNAI 600 036,
2	MARAPPAN SATHISH	INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, IIT P.O. CHENNAI 600 036

PCT International Classification Number

H01M02/16

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA