Abstract
Chromate is today added to industrial chlorate electrolyte, where it forms a thin cathode film of chromium hydroxide that hinders unwanted reduction of hypochlorite and chlorate. The aim of this study was to investigate rare earth metal (REM) ions as an environmentally friendly alternative to the toxic chromate addition. Potential sweeps and iR-corrected polarisation curves were recorded using rotating disc electrodes of iron and gold. Addition of Y(III), La(III) or Sm(III) to 5 M NaCl at 70 °C suppressed hypochlorite reduction. Activation of hydrogen evolution by REM ion addition to 0.5 M NaCl was more significant at 25 °C than at 50 and 70 °C. Increasing the chloride concentration to 5 M had a detrimental effect on this activation. The major problem in replacing chromate with REM salts is the poor solubility of REM ions at normal chlorate process conditions, and therefore REM salts are not a realistic alternative to chromate addition.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Coleman JE (1981) Tutorial lectures in electrochemical engineering and technology, vol 77, A.I.Ch.E. Symp. Ser. 204. Institute of Chemical Engineers, New York, p 244
Lindbergh G, Simonsson D (1991) Electrochim Acta 36:1985
Ahlberg Tidblad A, Lindbergh G (1991) Electrochim Acta 36:1605
Cornell A, Lindbergh G, Simonsson D (1991) Electrochim Acta 37:1873
Vogt H (1981) J Electrochem Soc 128:29C
Grotheer MP et al (1970) Sodium dichromate and molybdic acid to increase the cathode efficiency of chlorate cells, US Patent No 3,535,216
Li M, Twardowski Z, Mok F, Tam N (2007) J Appl Electrochem 37:499
Krstajic N, Jovic V, Martelli GN (2007) System for the electrolytic production of sodium chlorate, World Intellectual Property Organization Patent No WO 2007/063081 A2
Cornell A, Simonsson D (1993) J Electrochem Soc 140:3123
Hinton BRW, Wilson L (1989) Corros Sci 29:967
Zhang T, Li DY (2003) Mater Sci Eng A 345:179
Böhm S, Greef R, McMurray HN, Powell SM, Worsley DA (2000) J Electrochem Soc 147:3286
Tran M, Fiaud C, Sutter EMM (2006) J Electrochem Soc 153:B83
Tran M, Mohammedi D, Fiaud C, Sutter EMM (2006) Corros Sci 48:4257
Tran M, Dubot P, Sutter EMM (2008) Int J Hydrog Energy 33:937
Lide DR (2008) CRC handbook of chemistry and physics, 88th edn. CRC Press/Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton (Internet version)
Baes CF, Mesmer RE (1976) The hydrolysis of cations. Wiley, New York, pp. 124, 137
Hsu CT, Yen SK (2005) J Electrochem Soc 152:C813
Nylén L, Gustavsson J, Cornell A (2008) J Electrochem Soc 155:E136
Cornell A, Håkansson B, Lindbergh G (2003) Electrochim Acta 48:473
Tilak BV, Tari K, Hoover CL (1988) J Electrochem Soc 135:1376
Wulff J, Cornell A (2007) J Appl Electrochem 37:181
Wulfsberg G (2000) Inorganic chemistry. University Science Books, Sausalito, p 56
Smith RM, Martell AE (1976) Critical stability constants, Vol. 4: inorganic complexes, Plenum Press, New York, p 104
Vračar LJ, Dražić DM (1992) J Electroanal Chem 339:269
Acknowledgment
The Swedish Energy Agency, Eka Chemicals AB and Permascand AB are gratefully acknowledged for financing this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gustavsson, J., Nylén, L. & Cornell, A. Rare earth metal salts as potential alternatives to Cr(VI) in the chlorate process. J Appl Electrochem 40, 1529–1536 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-010-0136-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-010-0136-4