Electrolytic cells

Abstract

An electrolytic cell for producing hydrogen peroxide includes an anode, a cathode and an intermediate membrane. The anode is associated with a first electrolyte and the cathode is associated with a second electrolyte. The use of two electrolytes associated with the respective electrodes permits the user to select the most suitable salt solutions for each electrode and so avoid production of gases and by-products unsuitable for a domestic environment. Thus, the electrolytic cell is suitable for use in an automatic dishwasher.

1 . An electrolytic cell for production of hydrogen peroxide, comprising an anode, a cathode, an intermediate membrane, a first electrolyte associated with the anode and a second electrolyte associated with the cathode. 
   
   
       2 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an anode chamber arranged to house the anode and the first electrolyte. 
   
   
       3 . A cell as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a first pump arranged to circulate the first electrolyte between the anode chamber and a first tank. 
   
   
       4 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a cathode chamber arranged to house the cathode and the second electrolyte. 
   
   
       5 . A cell as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a second pump arranged to circulate the second electrolyte between the cathode chamber and a second tank. 
   
   
       6 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the second electrolyte comprises a metal chloride solution. 
   
   
       7 . A cell as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the metal chloride is sodium chloride. 
   
   
       8 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first electrolyte is any solution of a metal salt other than a metal chloride 
   
   
       9 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first electrolyte is a metal sulphate solution. 
   
   
       10 . A cell as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the metal sulphate is sodium sulphate. 
   
   
       11 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first electrolyte includes softened water from a mains supply. 
   
   
       12 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a water supply supplying water to the electrolytes. 
   
   
       13 . A cell as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the water supply comprises a connection to the local mains supply. 
   
   
       14 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen supply supplying oxygen to the cathode. 
   
   
       15 . A cell as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the oxygen supply comprises a connection to ambient air. 
   
   
       16 . A cell as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the oxygen supply comprises a chamber of pressurised air. 
   
   
       17 . A cell as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising an air pump for pumping air into the chamber. 
   
   
       18 . A cell as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply arranged to energise the anode and the cathode. 
   
   
       19 . A cell as claimed in  claim 18 , in which the power supply is derived from the electrical mains supply. 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . An appliance incorporating an electrolytic cell as claimed in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       22 . An automatic dishwasher incorporating an electrolytic cell as claimed in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       23 . A method of producing hydrogen peroxide comprising activating an electrolytic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, an intermediate membrane, a first electrolyte associated with the anode and a second electrolyte associated with the cathode. 
   
   
       24 . A method of washing dishes, comprising:
 producing hydrogen peroxide by activating an electrolytic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, an intermediate membrane, a first electrolyte associated with the anode and a second electrolyte associated with the cathode, and   applying hydrogen peroxide to the dishes.