Electrolysis cell and method

Abstract

A zero-gap solid polymer electrolyte electrolysis cell is provided comprising an anode; a cathode; and an ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; wherein the cathode is a catalyst comprising a hydrogen sorbing material. The cell can be used in the dehalogenation of halogenated organic compounds and the destruction of aqueous nitrates.

1 . A zero-gap solid polymer electrolyte electrolysis cell comprising 
 a) an anode;    b) a cathode;    c) an ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode;    wherein the cathode is a catalyst comprising a hydrogen sorbing material.    
   
   
       2 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen sorbing material is selected from palladium, nickel, iron, chromium and the lanthanides.  
   
   
       3 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 2 , wherein the hydrogen sorbing material is selected from palladium, nickel, and iron.  
   
   
       4 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is supported on a substrate.  
   
   
       5 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the cathode further comprises a current collector.  
   
   
       6 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is supported on titanium mini-mesh, iron gauze or carbon cloth.  
   
   
       7 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the ion exchange membrane is an organic membrane.  
   
   
       8 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the ion exchange membrane is a fluorosulphonate ionmer.  
   
   
       9 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the anode is able to oxidatively destroy the product of the reaction at the cathode, such that the cell is connected so that the products from the reaction at the cathode are fed to the anode.  
   
   
       10 . An electrolysis cell according to  claim 9 , wherein the anode is selected from a SnO 2 , Pt, RuO 2 , PbO 2 , IrO 2 , Ni, Ti 4 O 7  and TiO 2  electrode and a Dimensionally Stable Anode (DSA).  
   
   
       11 . A method of at least partially dehalogenating a halogenated organic compound using an electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , including the steps of simultaneously: 
 (a) passing a liquid comprising a halogenated organic compound over the cathode of the cell;    (b) passing a suitable anolyte over the anode of the cell; and    (c) applying a voltage across the cathode and anode.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the catholyte comprises the halogenated organic compound in solution.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the catholyte comprises the halogenated organic compound mixed with or dispersed in an oil.  
   
   
       14 . A method of at least partially dehalogenating a halogenated organic compound using an electrolysis cell according to  claim 9 , including the steps of simultaneously: 
 (a) passing a liquid comprising a halogenated organic compound over the cathode of the cell;    (b) passing the result of the process at the cathode to the anode of the cell as the anolyte; and    (c) applying a voltage across the cathode and anode.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the catholyte comprises the halogenated organic compound in solution.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the catholyte comprises the halogenated organic compound mixed with or dispersed in an oil.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (b) comprises directing the exit flow from the cathode part of the cell to the in flow of the anode part of the cell.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein step (b) comprises the treated catholyte passing through the ion exchange membrane to the anode part of the cell.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the halogenated organic compound bears halogen substituents on an aromatic ring.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the halogenated organic compound is a polychlorobiphenyl compound of the formula C 12 H 10-n Cl n , wherein n is an integer.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the halogenated organic compound is a halophenol of formula C 6 H 5-n X n OH, where X is a halo substituent and where n is an integer.  
   
   
       22 . A method of at least partially reducing aqueous nitrate ions using an electrolysis cell according to  claim 1 , including the steps of simultaneously: 
 (a) passing an aqueous solution of nitrate ions over the cathode of the cell;    (b) passing a suitable anolyte over the anode of the cell; and    (c) applying a voltage across the cathode and anode.    
   
   
       23 . A method of at least partially reducing aqueous nitrate ions using an electrolysis cell according to  claim 9 , including the steps of simultaneously: 
 (a) passing an aqueous solution of nitrate ions over the cathode of the cell;    (b) passing the result of the process at the cathode to the anode of the cell as the anolyte; and    (c) applying a voltage across the cathode and anode.    
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein step (b) comprises directing the exit flow from the cathode part of the cell to the in flow of the anode part of the cell.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein step (b) comprises the treated catholyte passing through the ion exchange membrane to the anode part of the cell.