Electrolytically produced fluids containing hypochlorites, their manufacture, and the rationale and chemistry of the process for securing stability / by Frederick W. Alexander.

  • Alexander, Frederick William, 1859-1937.
Date:
[1908]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Electrolytically produced fluids containing hypochlorites, their manufacture, and the rationale and chemistry of the process for securing stability / by Frederick W. Alexander. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    In September, 1905, I had given to me a note relative to the bases formerly used to render stable the fluid made by the Hermite process—namely, lime and caustic soda. Neither of the processes was adopted. I had ascertained that by merely adding a solution of caustic soda to the fluid it would produce stability, but such I found on experiment would not bring about the desired effect, for fluid made at 4'8 grammes of available chlorine per litre began to degenerate imme- diately it left the electrolysers and in a very few hours only gave a test of 2 ■ 0 grammes of available chlorine per litre and continued to diminish in strength. Then, after the addition of caustic soda, the carboy was necessarily shaken for some minutes, but shaking a carboy of 150 pounds weight by hand was, of course, a most difficult operation. Better results, however, were certainly obtained by half filling the carboy. It was observed that upon the addition of caustic soda to the electrolytic fluid a white precipitate was formed which immediately fell to the bottom of the carboy. The pre- cipitate was, of course, hydroxide of magnesium and the shaking of the carboy caused this insoluble and not easily diffusible compound to be distributed throughout the fluid and to give it a milky appearance, and it was found that the more milky in appearance the fluid became the more stable was the fluid rendered. The white precipitate ultimately settled at the bottom of the carboy and the fluid became quite clear. Having arrived at this point, and in order to secure the desired full amount of chlorine in the fluid from the moment it leaves the electrolysers, arrangements were made to drop the solution of caustic soda into the carboys and to stir whilst they w'ere being filled, and by another simple mechanical ariangement the hydroxide of magnesium and the electrolytic fluid were mixed well together by stirring the mixture in the carboys immediately after the process of filling. For my present purpose I need not further describe this arrangement and the apparatus for mixing. Careful thought and experiments have explained to me the rationale of this process and my explanation will possibly throw some light upon the whole process of the electrolytic production of hypochlorites. To understand the process of making the fluid stable one must first comprehend what is common knowledge respect- ing the electrical action within the electrolysers and to find out if there be any point which has been previously over- looked. I venture to say that my observations and experi-