Electro Downs Cell routes to Na & K metals;Chlorine via

MiNdBaBY · Sun May 29, 2005 12:46 pm

Having UTFSE, no previously existing posts or mention of the Electro Downs Cell nor it's use for Sodium metal or Chlorine production, so let me mention it:

With regards to the Electro Downs Cell efficiently capable of cleaving apart the metal & Chlorine from commonly availlable salts such as Potassium Chlorides (KCl) or Sodium Chloride (NaCl) at virtually non-existent cost/expense with the low cost of salt.

Na is a considerably valuable reagent being the most common and easiest to work with opposed to more aggressive properties of Li in organic synths. And on the flip side of the that coin Chlorine is utilizable in many reactions yielding yet numerous desired and useful lab reagents..

But the point of posting is Mind having just learned that commericallly factory produced electro downs cell's are being sold OTC for under $200 as "Swimming Pool Chlorine Generators" with possible potentional use for or in the lab environment if not more easily modifiable to meet required needs opposed to constructing a downs cell from scratch.

The following link generally explains such pool Chlorine generators, their advantages and methods of operation.
http://phoenix.about.com/cs/wet/a/saltpool01.htm

Excerpt from above link:
"There are two types of chlorine generators in use today on residential pools. The first one is a brine unit. This unit does not require the pool to have salt added to it. A tank or chamber at the pool equipment area has a predetermined amount of salt in it. Through electrolysis, chlorine is produced and immediately injected into the pool circulation system. These units are messy and produce by-products that are not simple to dispose of. These are the less common of the two types."

the above describing the type of model that is not only 'least expensive' but 'most preferred for any potention chemistry application' IMHO.

That very type of unit having been the $200 model swim had just observed for sale in a local large retail store for $168 (overprised IMHO where I had intended to purchase the item had it been and assuming it to cost less than $100).

It was designed to utilize Potassium which is a friendlier in handling opposed to Sodium, and do not know if that certain generator or all generators intended for pool use could or would be capable of handling Sodium.

And the above ref's statement that such generators are 'messry and produce by-products that are not simple to dispose of.' I would disagree with from a chemists perspective as that messy elemental metal by-product is exactly what the chemist desired from such generator..

-MiNd

P.S. Should anyone in the future experient or work with a Electro Downs Cell - Pool Chlorine Generator please post post your findings and observations of such generators characteristics and construction.

stratosphere · Sun May 29, 2005 5:45 pm

the pool cl2 generators uses aqueous soltions of salt to produce Cl2, which means that that the Na/K reacts with the water as fast as its produced to make hydrogen gas and Na+/K+

to make the metal you have to use molten salt as the electrolyte, a salt with a relativley low melting point is good old NaOH (320C).

MiNdBaBY · Mon May 30, 2005 2:33 am

strat is quite correct with that point...

I since posting read up (online) a bit with regard to generators mfr'd & available for sale and come to the opinion that utilizing such POOL targeted product (Electro Cell) directly from shelf to the lab environment use is pretty much non-existent;

however,

such pool generator(s) being a potentionally great source for raw materials/parts for the DIY'r chemist constructing their own down's cell..

So should you come across one of these for a couple bux used or in the scrap pile, you might take advantage of such to tear' it apart and take a peak in search of potentional raw materials of use; otherwise, such new cost of this item doesn't appear to warrant the expense for whatever amount of useful materials might be scavengable from such imho.

-MiNd

MiNdBaBY · Mon May 30, 2005 2:44 am

And w/reference to (well documented in existing chemistry liteterature) that
NaOH is one of multiple very viable routes to elemental Na via a lab environment synth;

HOWEVER,

before you run off and heat up some lye (NaOH) and further, BE FOREWARNED,
working with elemental metals in general and even moreso their production,

IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS (IMHO) in comparison to most other lab chemistry often practiced, and I STRESS you be well educated with such reactions, hazards, proper lab technique, and handling of such metals before even considering to go experiment with such..

Just a friendly warning to hopefully prevent some unneccessary injuries,

-MiNd