Thermoelectric prodn. of hydrogen and oxygen - by decomposition of higher oxide and hydrogen iodide obtd. from oxide, water and iodine

摘要

Prodn. involves an electrolysis and a thermochemical stage. In an electrolytic cell, an oxide (I) of V, Sb, As, Se, Te, Bi or U, in pure form or as alkali or alkaline earth cpd., is reacted with water and (I) at the anode to the oxide (II) with a higher 0 content and HI, whilst, at the same time, the HI is electrolysed to H and I. (II) is then removed as bottom prod., aq. soln. or hydrate melt and decomposed thermochemically, with liberation of 0. The 0 and H are removed from the process and the other prods. are recycled to the electrolytic cell. High current densities can be used and the H over-voltage is relatively low. Decompsn. voltages of 0.2-0.6 V at very high current densities can be attained.