Electrochemical Industry Research Articles

Natural currents

The electrochemical industry is largely based on the electrolysis of brine, giving sodium (or sodium hydroxide) and chlorine (or hydrogen chloride). The vast advances in this process have not been matched by the creation of the electricity needed, which is still largely based on steam equipment. This will soon collide with the green ambitions of the British government.

Heavy metals in fresh snow collected at different altitudes in the Chamonix and Maurienne valleys, French Alps: initial results

The Chamonix and Maurienne valleys, French Alps, are major pathways for international truck and automobile traffic in Western Europe since they give access to the transalpine Mont Blanc and Frejus road tunnels. Moreover, the seasonal snow pack, which accumulates from autumn to spring in these two valleys, is a major contributor to fresh water resources for a large number of people, especially in large cities such as Geneva, Lyon and Grenoble. During winter 1998, we have collected a series of snow samples from two well-identified snowfall events at various altitudes ranging from 1150 to 3532 m on the sides of these two deep valleys. They were analysed for Li, B, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pt, Au, Pb, Bi and U by double focusing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with micro concentric nebulization (DF-ICP-MS-MCN). Ultraclean procedures were used for field sampling and laboratory analysis. The results show surprisingly low concentration values. With the exception of Li, B, Pd, Sn, Pt and Au, concentrations are found to decrease with increasing altitude. Crustal enrichment factors larger than ±10 times the mean crustal abundance are observed for Cu, Zn, Li, Mo, Pb, Ag, Bi, B, Sb, Sn, Cd, Au, Pt and Pd, strongly suggesting contributions from non-crustal sources for these metals, especially local and/or regional anthropogenic sources. Significant contributions are likely to originate from truck and automobile traffic, electrometallurgical and electrochemical industries and municipal incinerators. These data provide with a unique snapshot of the situation which prevailed in the two valleys before the disaster which occurred on 24 March 1999 in the tunnel of Mont Blanc, which resulted into a massive fall of the traffic in the Chamonix valley and a parallel rise in the traffic in the Maurienne valley.

Secondary‐ion mass spectrometry methodology and surface chemistry of mixed oxide electrodes: Modifications induced by noble‐metal content

AbstractMixed‐oxide coatings are extensively used in the electrochemical industry. Secondary‐ion mass spectrometric data confirm that technological research can indeed find a new way of controlling precursors, synthesis conditions, purity of coatings and electrodic activity. Results obtained by argon and oxygen primary‐ion bombardment of RuO2/TiO2, IrO2/TiO2, RuO2/IrO2/TiO2 films are reported. The presence of metal, metal oxide and cluster ions suggests a more systematic use of secondary‐ion mass spectrometry in the elucidation of catalytic aspects. In‐depth profiles of some ionic species and their correlation with parameters that induce significant modifications can help in the understanding of the solid state physics and inorganic chemistry involved.

Cancer incidence among asbestos‐exposed chemical industry workers: An extended observation period

A previous study on the incidence of cancer in a cohort of 286 asbestos-exposed electrochemical industry workers observed from 1953 through 1980 has been extended with another 8 years of follow-up. The incidence of cancer was derived from the Cancer Registry of Norway, and the expected figures were calculated by a life table method. During the extended follow-up period from 1981 through 1988, among the cohort members there were 12 new cancer cases versus 14.2 expected (SIR 85, 95% CI 44-158). In a lightly exposed sub-cohort, the extended follow-up revealed 4 cases of lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma (ICD, 7th revision 162-163) versus 1.6 cases expected (SIR 256, 95% CI71-654). In a heavily exposed sub-cohort, the corresponding figures were 3 and 0.5 (SIR 588, 95% CI 118-1,725).

Computer applications in the electrochemical industry

Georgia Pacific Corporation's Bellingham, WA, chloralkali plant installed two microcomputer-based control systems last year. Both applications featured the use of IBM or compatible personal computers and both substantially increased the energy efficiency and the productivity of the 22-year-old plant. The automatic demand control system improved the plant's load factor from 95 to 99.9%. The automatic cell voltage and current monitoring system for the plant's 32 DeNora mercury cells reduced the k factor by 21%. Several unanticipated benefits also resulted from the microcomputer applications.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Multiple channel dynamic zero resistance ammeter

Applied Corrosion Monitoring Ltd have just launched this new Amstrad PC controlled product for the electrochemical corrosion testing industry. It enables several electrodes to be polarised by an electrochemical AC or DC technique around the couple potential at the same time. The individual response is then obtained from all the elements in the couple.

A 50-V 75-kA Shorting Switch for Bipolar Diaphragm Cells

Any switching arc can interrupt dc currents when the open circuit voltage is less that the minimum arc voltage (about 15 V). In the electrochemical industry most cells operate at about 5 V. The development of bipolar diaphragm cells for the chlor-alkali industry created a need for a 50-V shorting switch. To fill this need, a unique arcing contact was designed, tested, and incorporated in a shorting switch that has routinely interrupted 75 kA at about 50 V since 1980. Equations are derived and supported by laboratory and field test data.

Power Supplies for the Electrochemical Industry- An Economic and Performance Comparison Between Diodes and Thyristors

The rectifier system is one of the key components that make up an electrochemical plant. It must be reliable, economic, and perform to meet both the process requirements and utility regulations. Thyristor. and diode equipment is compared in relation to economy, reliability, efficiency, power factor, and harmonic generation. The aim is to assist electrochemical plant engineer who has the responsibility of writing an equipment specification.

Ventures in Electrochemical Industry

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Synthetic Membranes—Preparation, Structure, and Application

AbstractAfter a long period of dormancy, membrane separation processes have begun to emerge as technically significant and commercially relevant unit operations. Prior to the mid‐sixties, synthetic membranes were employed for those few specialized laboratory applications which could tolerate low permeability and poor selectivity or in electrochemical applications excluding, e. g., batteries, fuel cells, chloride‐alkali electrolysis, where marginal chemical stability remained a severe limitation. Within the framework of a broad R &amp; D program started in the US in the mid‐fifties and devoted to the production of fresh water from brackish and seawater, developments of more suitable membranes arose out of the application of the principles of physical chemistry, modern polymer chemistry (especially surface or interfacial polymerization and polycondensation technology), and electron microscopy. In particular, it was learned that asymmetric membrane structures comprise a very thin consolidated barrier layer (5000 Å or less for membranes with economically practical filtration rates) supported by an integral but less dense substrate which does not participate in the transport process. Later and after much effort, composite membranes were developed in which the salt‐rejecting skin (still only 5000 Å thick) was placed atop a supporting matrix formed from a more chemically and mechanically stable polymer.—The main desalination research effort led to several spin‐off developments in related membrane fields, e.g. the successful preparation and commercialization of ultrafiltration technology in the automobile, food, and chemical industries. Also, ion‐exchange membranes prepared from perfluorinated polymers offered the electrochemical industry much better chemical stability than the earlier phenolic‐resin‐based ion‐exchange membranes.—Current efforts are aimed at the improved selectivity and stability required for very specific separation processes (e.g. separation of heavy metal salts from waste water or selective enrichment of gases). In the future, the mechanisms of biological processes will have to be exploited for successful development of synthetic membranes suitable for more sophisticated separations.

Effect of a Magnetic Field on the Rate of Diffusion-Controlled Corrosion of Metals

AbstractExperiments with copper in acidified dichromate solutions have shown that a magnetic field can enhance the rate of diffusion-controlled corrosion. Care should be taken in chemical and electrochemical industries to keep hardware susceptible to corrosion away from the domain of magnetic fields.

Achievements and tasks of electrochemical engineering

This review of some of the most outstanding achievements of ECE in recent years highlights the role played by new concepts in plant optimization and in the obtention of high space time yields. The application of new materials to the design and construction of electrochemical reactors has also been responsible for the latest breakthroughs in electrochemical industry. The fundamental approach whereby each achievement presented in this survey was made possible should encourage a more extended teaching of electrochemistry in chemical engineering schools.

Aspects of electrochemistry, chemistry, physics, and applications of “Less-Common Metals”

Chemistry, electrochemistry and physical properties of the less-common metals and their compounds are reviewed in connection with, surface treatments of the so called valve metals (Ta, Nb, Hf, Zr, W, etc.), their applications in electronic industries (opto-electronics and electronic ceramics such as ferro-magnetic and ferro-electric substances), fuel cells and solid-state electrolytes containing the rare-earth metal oxides. These applications are now a most promising field in chemical or electrochemical industry.

Trace Determination of Hydroquinone in Vinyl Chloride by Gas Chromatography

Israel Journal of ChemistryVolume 11, Issue 4 p. 599-600 Letters to the Editor Trace Determination of Hydroquinone in Vinyl Chloride by Gas Chromatography H. M. Joseph, H. M. Joseph Frutarom Electrochemical Industries, P.O.B. 1929, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this authorJ. Andrzejczak, J. Andrzejczak Frutarom Electrochemical Industries, P.O.B. 1929, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this author H. M. Joseph, H. M. Joseph Frutarom Electrochemical Industries, P.O.B. 1929, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this authorJ. Andrzejczak, J. Andrzejczak Frutarom Electrochemical Industries, P.O.B. 1929, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this author First published: 1973 https://doi.org/10.1002/ijch.197300056Citations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume11, Issue41973Pages 599-600 RelatedInformation

Industrial Development in Hokuriku District

The author first describes the present status and problems of industrial development and industrial location in whole Japan, and then refers to the grade of industrial development in Hokuriku District (Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui Pref.), with special interest in the trends in the aluminum industrial complex (electrochemical and mechanical industries), and the petrochemical industrial complex (petrochemical and textile industries) together with their relations with those in Tokai and Kinki Districts.

フッ化水素酸中におけるチタンの見かけの活性化エネルギー

It has been about 10 years since the titanium electrode plated with platinum appeared in electrochemical industry, and it has been evaluated as an excellent insoluble electrode. It is said that more than dozens of patents on the manufacturing method of this electrode have been published. However, the electrode having very high corrosion resistance has never been manufactured.The activation energy for the interface reaction between titanium and the acid was calculated from the measured rate of dissolution of titanium in hydrofluoric acid, and the mechanism of dissolution of titanium was estimated as an essential factor in plating platinum on titanium in aqueous solution.The following results were obtained.1) The change in activation energy of titanium in hydrofluoric acid with the concentration of acid was as follows:Concentration Activation energy 2% 9.5Kcal.mol-11% 9.7Kcal.mol-10.5% 9.3Kcal.mol-12) The change of energy, when the solution was being stirred, was as follows:Concentration Activation energy2% 9.7Kcal.mol-11% 9.6Kcal.mol-10.5% 9.4Kcal.mol-13) Almost the same values of activation energy were obtained between the solution with and without stirring, even though the reaction rate was not determined owing to the diffusion by stirring. Therefore, it was concluded that the reaction rate is not determined by the diffusion process.

RECENT ADVANCES IN CATHODIC PROTECTION

Cathodic protection is an electrical technique for preventing the rusting of iron and steel, a phenomenon which is usually considered a chemical reaction. Because of this the subject advances hand in hand with developments in electrical engineering and in the electrochemical industry and is modified in conjunction with advances in the chemical techniques for preventing corrosion. Magnesium, aluminium and zinc can be used as sacrificial anodes to provide cathodic protection and the greatest advance in this field has been the discovery of a new series of aluminium alloys which in sea‐water become cheap and effective sacrificial anodes. Impressed current techniques require a permanent anode and the plating of a very thin film of platinum on to a titanium substrate has been found to make an ideal anode. Much of the exploitation of this anode has taken place with new electrical techniques such as automatic control, the individual adjustment of anode current and a considerable improvement in the instrumentation. The extended experience of cathodic protection has given the contracting industry a very much greater knowledge of the design problems, of the spread of protection, of the degree of control and of the economic balance between the various techniques. A wider use of cathodic protection to supplement organic coatings and the development of coatings which work more readily with cathodic protection are two of the exceptional economic advances. Cathodic protection, unlike most anti‐corrosive treatments, is a continuous process, and as such it has to be maintained: the realisation of this has perhaps done more to produce the good results of which cathodic protection is capable, than any other single scientific discovery.

わが国の電気化学工業と電力

わが国の電気化学工業と電力

Location of Electrochemical Industry

Location of Electrochemical Industry

An industrial health service in Norway.

Norway has an area of approximately 320,000 square kilometres, with a population of only about 3-2 millions. About 30% of the population live in the cities, whereas 20% live in suburban and industrial areas and other population centres, and the remaining 50% in rural areas. The main occupations in Norway are agriculture and forestry, fishing and whaling, manufacturing and trade, as well as business and transport. During the years preceding and following the last world war Norway has been increasingly industrialized. Thus, the census of 1946 revealed that those employed in manufacturing and trade constituted the largest occupational group, with a total of 480,000 persons, 80,000 of whom were women. The most important industrial enterprises are the iron and metal industry, the food industry, the pulp and paper industry, the textile industry, the chemical and electro-chemical industry, and mining. Most industrial and manufacturing concerns are small, employing between 20 and 100 workers. A small number of industrial firms (about 600) have more than 100 employees, and only about 100 firms have a staff of more than 500 workers. As industry has developed, the increasing prob lems of occupational hygiene and medical care called for the establishment of an industrial health service, with the following aims : (1) regular health control through periodical medical examinations, to protect and promote the health of the workers and other employees of industrial and other concerns ; (2) to promote industrial hygiene. The former professor of hygiene at the University of Oslo, Carl Schioetz, was the pioneer in this work. In 1917 he tried to apply the principles mentioned above as a works doctor. Inspired by him and encouraged by his results, a few physicians interested in hygiene and occupational hygiene accepted in 1939 similar positions in other concerns. However, the work was still done on an experimental basis