Wolfgang Faul

Apparatus for oxidation or reduction process in water solution with electrochemically active catalyst on a porous carrier

A plate or hollow cylinder of coarsely porous graphite is coated with a layer of finely porous activated carbon that has previously been heat-treated. The fine layer is impregnated with a catalyst either before or after application to the graphite body. A gas is caused to flow through the graphite body and out through the finely porous layer containing the catalyst, to react with substances in a solution in which the carrier body is immersed. For oxidation, air can be used, and for reduction, hydrogen. In this manner, sulfite can be oxidized or chromate reduced and hydrogen gas can also be used to precipitate platinum, rhodium, copper and other metals from solution. Electro-chemical activation or regeneration of the catalyst is possible by applying a potential to the carrier body. The reaction can be carried on in solutions in which solids are suspended without clogging the catalyst.