Paramagnetic additive method of optimizing cell electrohydrodynamics

Abstract

Magnetoelectrolysis cells known to operate successfully without utilizing a non-electrogenerated paramagnetic additive added to an aqueous electrolyte solution of such a cell may in some instances be further enhanced by utilizing such an additive. However, excessive amounts of additive are impracticable and formerly proposed transition metal salts used as paramagnetic additives were never demonstrated as effective except when used in large amounts. Now it is disclosed that small amounts of a salt of a paramagnetic lanthanide solve the problem, if methodically applied to enhancing the magnetoelectrolysis cell in accordance with the specified steps of the invention.

1 . For a method of utilizing a paramagnetic additive to enhance the performance of a magnetoelectrolysis cell having an aqueous electrolyte solution containing between from about  0 . 0004  M to about  0 . 025  M of the additive, the method comprising, in combination: 
 a step for locating electrodes in the cell which are a solid-phase anode and a solid-phase cathode;    a step for ascertaining whether the electrodes are to comprise active materials or else are to be inert;    a step for ascertaining that an aqueous electrolyte solution of identified electroactive species constitution and properties exists in the liquid phase between the electrodes;    a step for ascertaining that the magnetoelectrolysis cell is susceptible to enhancement by addition of a non-electrogenerated paramagnetic additive;    a step for plotting imposed magnetic field flux inherent to the magnetoelectrolysis cell;    a step for plotting induced non-uniform magnetic field flux resulting in the magnetoelectrolysis cell from presence of regions in the electrolyte solution having different magnetic susceptibilites;    a step for preserving electroactive species identities in the electrolyte solution;    a step for assuring stability of paramagnetism of the paramagnetic additive; and,    a step for selecting, as the paramagnetic additive, a material selected from outside the range of fourth and fifth period transition metals, and of which an undesirably large amount thereof is not required in order to procure intended enhancement of the magnetoelectrolysis cell.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the paramagnetic additive material selected is a salt of one of the lanthanide elements numbered from 58 through 70 in the PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the paramagnetic additive material selected is a salt of an actinide element.