Electrolysis of Salt Water

Abstract

The present invention is a method for producing hydrogen and oxygen from salt water, using an electrolyser having first and second electrode compartments respectively on each side of a hydrophilic ion-exchange membrane, the method comprising adding salt water to one or both of the electrode compartments, and electrolysing the salt water. The present invention is also a method of producing a biologically active solution using an electrolyser as defined above, the method comprising adding salt water to one or both of the electrode compartments, and electrolysing the salt water. Further, the present invention is a method for reducing the salt content of salt water using an electrolyser as defined above, the method comprising adding salt water to one or both electrode compartments, and electrolysing the salt water.

1 . A method for producing hydrogen and oxygen from salt water, using an electrolyser having first and second electrode compartments respectively on each side of a hydrophilic ion-exchange membrane, the method comprising adding salt water to one or both of the electrode compartments, and electrolysing the salt water. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt water is added to the first electrode compartment only, and the second electrode compartment is substantially dry. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt water is added to the first electrode compartment only, and water is added to the second electrode compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising reacting the hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell to produce potable water. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a biologically active solution using an electrolyser as defined in  claim 1 , the method comprising adding salt water to one or both of the electrode compartments, and electrolysing the salt water. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein salt water is added to the first electrode compartment only, and water is added to the second electrode compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the salt water is added to the first electrode compartment only, and the second electrode compartment is substantially dry. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is a cationic membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is an anionic membrane. 
     
     
         10 . A method for reducing the salt content of salt water using an electrolyser as defined in  claim 1 , the method comprising adding salt water to one or both electrode compartments, and electrolysing the salt water. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the salt water is electrolysed until potable water is produced in one of the electrode compartments. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the salt water is added to the first electrode compartment only, and the second electrode compartment is substantially dry. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt water is seawater. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt water is brine. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt water is brackish water. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic membrane is obtainable from the copolymerisation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers that give a hydrophilic polymer on polymerisation, wherein the copolymerisation is conducted in the presence of water and a monomer including a strongly ionic group. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the membrane is a cationic membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the membrane is an anionic membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the hydrophilic membrane is obtainable from the copolymerisation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers that give a hydrophilic polymer on polymerisation, wherein the copolymerisation is conducted in the presence of water and a monomer including a strongly ionic group. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophilic membrane is obtainable from the copolymerisation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers that give a hydrophilic polymer on polymerisation, wherein the copolymerisation is conducted in the presence of water and a monomer including a strongly ionic group.