Electrolytic cell for removal of material from a solution

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrolytic cell for removal of material from a solution. The cell comprises a cavity for receiving the solution, a rotatable electrode located within the cavity, a counter-electrode in spaced relation to the rotatable electrode, and an ultrasonic generator coupled to said cavity for directing ultrasonic energy toward the rotatable electrode to displace solid material extracted from the solution by an electrochemical reaction. The rotatable electrode may form a cathode, and the counter-electrode may form an anode, wherein metal in the solution is deposited on the cathode as a metal powder, such that the ultrasonic energy displaces the metal powder from the cathode. Alternatively, the rotatable electrode may form an anode, and the counter-electrode may form a cathode, wherein organic waste in the solution is deposited on the anode, such that the ultrasonic energy removes the deposited organic waste from the anode.

1 . An electrolytic cell for the removal of material as a powder from a solution, the cell comprising: 
 a cavity for receiving the solution;    a rotatable electrode located within the cavity;    a counter-electrode in spaced relation to the rotatable electrode; and    an ultrasonic generator coupled to said cavity for directing ultrasonic energy toward the rotatable electrode to dislodge material extracted as a powder from the solution by an electrochemical reaction.    
   
   
       2 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the solution contains a metal and said cell is configured such that the rotatable electrode forms a cathode, the counter-electrode forms an anode, the metal in the solution is deposited on the cathode as a metal powder, and the ultrasonic energy dislodges the metal powder from the cathode.  
   
   
       3 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 2 , wherein the ultrasonic generator comprises: 
 an oscillator for producing alternating-current energy; and    a transducer coupled to the cavity for converting the alternating-current energy to mechanical vibrations.    
   
   
       4 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 3 , wherein there are two transducers coupled to the cavity at 180 degrees across the cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 2 , wherein the cathode is a disk.  
   
   
       6 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 5 , wherein the disk is formed of a generally flat sheet of flexible material with an electrically-conductive surface provided on one major surface thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 2 , wherein the cell is a funnel-shaped.  
   
   
       8 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 7 , wherein the anode is a rod coaxial within the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 2 , further comprising a filter for collecting powdered metal removed from the cathode.  
   
   
       10 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable electrode forms an anode, and the counter-electrode forms a cathode, wherein organic waste in the solution is deposited on the anode, such that the ultrasonic energy removes the deposited organic waste from the anode.  
   
   
       11 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 10 , wherein the ultrasonic generator comprises: 
 an oscillator for producing alternating-current energy; and    a transducer coupled to the cavity for converting the alternating-current energy to mechanical vibrations.    
   
   
       12 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 11 , wherein there are two transducers coupled to the cavity at 180 degrees across the cavity.  
   
   
       13 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 10 , wherein the anode is a disk.  
   
   
       14 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 13 , wherein the disk is formed of a generally flat sheet of flexible material with an electrically-conductive surface provided on one major surface thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 10 , wherein the cell is a funnel-shaped.  
   
   
       16 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 15 , wherein the cathode is a rod coaxial within the housing.  
   
   
       17 . An electrolytic cell for removal of material from a solution, the cell comprising: 
 a cavity for receiving the solution;    a rotatable electrode located within the cavity; and    means for inhibiting the meniscus rising effect that occurs when the tangential speed of the rotatable electrode is higher than a predetermined value.    
   
   
       18 . An electrolytic cell for removal as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said rising meniscus inhibiting means comprises a disk with an inclined surface tapering inwardly from a periphery of said disk to a central aperture.  
   
   
       19 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 17 , wherein said predetermined value is about 1 m/sec.  
   
   
       20 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 17 , wherein said means is geometrically configured such that it allows the passage of liquid and solid particles downwardly and the evolution of gases from the cell upwardly.  
   
   
       21 . An electrolytic cell for removal of material from a solution, the cell comprising: 
 a cavity for receiving the solution; and    a hollow refrigerated rotatable electrode that allows the electroextraction of a metal from an electrolyte whose temperature is above the melting point of the metal.    
   
   
       22 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 21 , wherein said metal is gallium.  
   
   
       23 . A method for electrowinning metals comprising the steps of: 
 passing a solution containing a metal through an electrolytic cell having an anode and cathode;    applying a direct current to the solution between the anode and the cathode so metal becomes deposited on said cathode as a metal powder;    rotating the cathode during deposition; and    directing ultrasonic energy toward the cathode in order to dislodge the powdered metal therefrom.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising off said direct current at intervals and directing said ultrasonic energy is directed toward the cathode while said current is switched off.  
   
   
       25 . A method for oxidizing organic compounds comprising the steps of: 
 passing a solution containing organic compounds through an electrolytic cell having an anode and cathode;    applying a direct current to the solution between the anode and the cathode, so as to oxidize the organic compounds at the anode;    rotating the anode during oxidation;    directing ultrasonic energy toward the anode in order to clean its surface therefrom.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , comprising switching off said direct current at intervals and directing said ultrasonic energy is directed toward the cathode while said current is switched off.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said current is switched off for 1 to 4 minutes every 24-36 hours.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for extracting material from a solution comprising: 
 a cavity for receiving the solution;    a rotatable electrode located within the cavity;    a counter-electrode in spaced relation to the rotatable electrode;    a source of electrical energy for supplying said rotatable electrode and said counter-electrode under conditions such that said material is deposited as a powder on said rotatable electrode by an electrochemical reaction; and    an ultrasonic generator coupled to said cavity for directing ultrasonic energy toward the rotatable electrode to dislodge the powder extracted from the solution.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising a device for inhibiting the rise of a meniscus as said electrode is rotated at high speed.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said device is a disk having an interior aperture with an inclined surface tapering toward said interior aperture.