US480492A - Elisha barton cutten - Google Patents

Description

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA BARTON OUTTEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF ELECTROLYTICALLY PRODUCING POTASSIUM CHLORATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,492, dated August 9, 1892.

Application filed April 11, 1892. Serial No. 428,736. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA BARTON CUTTEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods for Electrolytically Producing Potassium Chlorate, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new method of producing potassium chlorateby electrolyzing a solution of magnesium chloride in the presence of potassium chloride and slaked lime.

My invention further consists in the construction and arrangement of an electrolytic cell and the disposition of the electrolyte therein so that while potassium chlorate is produced atone electrode magnesium oxide (magnesia) may be produced at the other.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of an electrolytic cell arranged for carrying my process into effect.

Fig. 2 is a similar section of a modified arrangement of said cell.

I carry my process into elfect in the following manner: In an ordinary containing-ves- 15 sel suitable for an electrolytic cell I place electrodes, preferably of carbon, but which may be of any other material suitable for the purpose, so long as the positive electrode is of a substance which will not be attacked by 0 the freed chlorine. I place in the cell as the electrolyte a solution of magnesium chloride. The solution may be of a strength of from fifteen to twenty percent. I add to the solution of magnesium chloride a suitable quantity of potassium chloride (preferably the ordinary muriate of commerce) and slaked lime. The relative quantities are of course determined by the chemical combining pro-' portions of the substances, which are known. 40 WVhen the currentis established, three equiva lents of magnesium chloride become convert-- ed into three equivalents of magnesium and six equivalents of chlorine. The six equivalents of chlorine combine with three equivalents of slaked lime to produce three equivalents of calcium chloride and three equivalents of oxygen. The three equivalents of oxygen then combine with the potassium chloride to make potassium chlorate, (K010 It will be observed that the work of setting free the chlorine from the magnesium chloride is done entirely by electrolytic means and in the cell. When it is desired to produce and collect both potassium chlorate and magnesia by this process, I arrange the cell so that the outer containing-vessel maybe of conducting material and constitute the cathode. I place the anode in a porous cup of earthenware or any other non-attackable material, and in this porous cup put potassium chloride, magne sium chloride, and slaked lime. In the outer 'vessel is placed a solution of magnesium chloride, so that the porous partition simply acts as a diaphragm separating the ingredients of the electrolyte in the manner stated. On electrolysis potassium chlorate is formed around the anode, and when the porous partition is made in the form of a cup it accumulates therein. The magnesia, on the other hand, is

formed on the inner surface of the cathode and may be removed therefrom at will. It is necessary to agitate the solution in the porous cup in order to get the best results.

I claim 1. The method of electrolytically producing potassium chlorate, substantially as hereinbefore described, which consists in electrolyzing magnesium chloride in the presence of potassium chloride and slaked lime.

2. The method of electrolytically producing potassium chlorate, substantially as hereinbefore described, which consists in electrolyzing magnesium chloride in the presence of potassium chloride and slaked lime and agitating the electrolyte pending electrolysis.

3. The method of electrolytically producing and collecting magnesia and potassium chlorate, substantially as hereinbefore described, which consists in placing a solution of magnesium chloride in contact with the cathode and potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and slaked lime in contact with the anode, the said magnesium chloride being separated from said potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and slaked lime by a porous partition, and then electrolyzing, whereby potassium chlorate is produced at the anode and magnesia at the cathode.

ELISHA BARTON OUTTEN.

\Vitnesses r H. R. MOLLER, lVI. BOSCH.

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