Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

6-30-1960

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Chemical Engineering

First Advisor

C. L. Mantell

Second Advisor

George C. Keeffe

Third Advisor

Saul I. Kreps

Abstract

An investigation of an electrolytic cell utilizing a nickel anode in alkaline solution for the production of sodium meta periodate from sodium iodate was conducted. The problem was to find an improved method of producing the salts of periodic acid.

The test conditions of cell operation were varied, i. e., temperature, concentration, hydrogen ion concentration, current density and the physical dimensions of the electrolytic cell. The optimum conditions cell operation were found to be a temperature of 21°C, a concentration of 0.10 grams per milliliter of sodium iodate, a pH of 13, current density of between 32 and 42 milliamperes per square centimeter, and the physical dimensions of the anode compartment expressed as a ratio of the volume of the anode compartment to the inside surface area of 1/10.7.

The electrolytic cell, which is a recently developed novel cell designed for the electrolytic production of persulfuric acid, was found to be adaptable to the electrolytic production of sodium meta periodate and periodic acid.

The nickel anode, which gave relatively high current efficiencies, is limited in application as an anode material because it is only efficient in alkaline solution. sodium iodate and other iodates have a low limit of solubility. Therefore the full advantage of concentration, such as increased current efficiency, concentration of product, and time of production, cannot be had with the nickel anode.

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