Electrochemistry of Cleaner Environments

Transcription

1 Electrochemistry of Cleaner Environments

2 Electrochemistry of Cleaner Environments Edited by ~ohn O'M. Bockris Electrochemistry Laboratory John Harrison Laboratory of Chemistry University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania g:> PLENUM PRESS NEW YORK-LONDON 1972

3 First Printing - January 1972 Second Printing - January 1975 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number ISBN-13: e-isbn-13: : / Plenum Press. New York Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1972 A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation 227 West 17th Street. New York. N.Y United Kingdom edition published by Plenum Press. London A Division of Plenum Publishing Company. Ltd. Davis House (4th Floor). 8 Scrubs Lane. Harlesden. NW10 6 SE. London. England All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher

4 CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS VOLUME J. O'M. BOCKRIS B. D. EpSTEIN D. P. GREGORY R. PHILIP HAMMOND T. A. HENRIE E. H. HIETBRINK ANSELM T. KUHN R. E. LINDSTROM G. M. LONG J. McBREEN D. Y. C. NG GILBERT N. PLASS EDMUND C. POTTER The Electrochemistry Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gulf General Atomic Company, San Diego, California Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, Illinois Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. Electrochemistry Department, Research Laboratories, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Michigan Department of Chemistry, University of Salford, Salford, Lancashire, England Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, Illinois Electrochemistry Department, Research Laboratories, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Michigan Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, Illinois Department of Physics, Texas A. & M. University, College Station, Texas Division of Mineral Chemistry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Sydney, Australia

5 vi Contributors to this Volume S. M. SELlS S. B. TRICKLEBANK R. R. WITHERSPOON Electrochemistry Department, Research Laboratories, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Michigan Electrochemistry Department, Research Laboratories, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Michigan Electrochemistry Department, Research Laboratories, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Michigan

6 PREFACE Of the societal ills which are recognized as present in the Western countries during the 1970's, pollution of air and water is among the first. Whether the breathing of noxious gases acts biochemically as a source of mental irritation is not yet known. But it is not in doubt that reduction of the grime, smog, fouled water, and acrid air would lead to an increase in a feeling of well-being. Nor is it speculative to state that a reversal of the present trend to poison the atmosphere and the water is essential if man is to survive in a technological society. It was partly the lack of realization of the intrinsic nature of overpotential in electrochemical reactions, * and hence the failure of the early fuel cells to come up to expectations, which led engineers at the turn of the century to rely upon the combustion of oil and coal for the production of energy, with the associated era of increasing atmospheric pollution. There is a clean electrochemical route for carrying out many of the tasks of chemical technology, in energy production and in cleanup and antipollution chemistry. Electrochemical reactions may occur spontaneously, electrogeneratively, or may need electricity to drive them. By using them on a large scale, one could continue to develop the high technology which supports man in affluence, without his drowning in the effluents which result from much of present rather than electrochemical technology, or being overcome by the inhalation of the air fouled by the products of the present means of transportation. Here, in the electrification of chemical processes, is a field of great relevance to the foundations of a clean future for man. The object of this book is to illustrate a few specific ways in which a cleaner world might be approached by developing the technology seen as potentially present behind presently existing electrochemical science. Sam Lord's Castle, Barbados April 1971 *The shift in the Fermi level from that for zero current to cause a current i to flow. vii J. O'M. Bockris

7 CONTENTS Chapter 1 The Electrochemical Future J. O'M. Bockris I. Introduction II. Transportation III. Electrochemical Powering of Transportation IV. Illusions in Respect to the Electric Automobile V. Metallurgy VI. Electrochemical Synthesis VII. Dirty Liquids VIII. Sewage and Rubbish Sewage Rubbish IX. Electroextractions X. Detecting Devices XI. The Hydrogen Economy XII. The Agro- (and Urban) Nuclear Complex XIII. The Electrochemical World XIV. Research Funding XV. Education Chapter 2 The Influence of the Combustion of Fossil Fuels on the Climate Gilbert N. Plass I. Introduction II. Calculation of Temperature Changes III. Carbon Dioxide Balance ix

8 x Contents IV. Carbon Dioxide Exchange between Oceans and Atmosphere 35 V. Evidence from Past Climates VI. Carbon Dioxide from Fossil-Fuel Combustion References Chapter 3 Electrochemical Power Sources for Vehicle Propulsion E. H. Hietbrink, J. McBreen, S. M. Selis, S. B. Tricklebank, and R. R. Witherspoon I. Introduction II. Incentives for Electric Vehicles Conservation and Utilization of Fossil-Fuel Supplies Future Changes in Energy Sources Environmental Pollution III. Obstacles to Electric Vehicles IV. Vehicle Power-Plant Requirements Power Requirements Energy Requirements Electric Energy Requirements from the Utilities V. Current Battery Technology Lead-Acid Battery Nickel-Cadmium Battery Silver-Zinc Battery Fuel Cells VI. Emerging Battery Technology Ambient Temperature Systems High-Temperature Systems Summary of Expected Battery Performances VII. Projections of Electric Power-Plant Development References Chapter 4 The Electrochemical Treatment of Aqueous Eflluent Streams Anselm T. Kuhn I. Introduction II. Electrodialysis and the Concentration of Effluent Streams III. Electroflotation Processes Details of Cell Design and Performance Electrodes and Electrolytes

9 Contents xi IV. Cathodic Processes-Recovery of Metals Recovery of Copper Recovery of Other Metals V. Anodic Destruction Processes Fundamentals of the Process Cyanide Destruction The Chloride-Cyanide Process Electrochemical Sterilization of Domestic Wastes The Electrochemical Destruction of Other Organic Compounds VI. Conclusions References Chapter 5 The Electrofiltration of Particulates from Gases Edmund C. Potter I. Introduction II. The Broad Principle of Electrostatic Precipitation III. The Deutsch Equation IV. The Particle Migration Velocity V. Agreement between Theory and Observation The Effect of Applied Voltage The Effect of Particle Size VI. Electrical Aspects of Precipitation The Particle Charging Process Distribution of Field Electrical Effects of Suspended Particles Electrical Effects of Collected Dust VII. Structure and Dislodgment of Collected Dust VIII. The Present Technical Outlook The Cost of Electrostatic Precipitation Acknowledgments References Chapter 6 Electrochemical Methods of Pollution Analysis B. D. Epstein I. Introduction II. Air Pollution Monitoring

10 xii Contents l. Ozone Oxides of Nitrogen Analysis of S02 and Oxidizable Sulfur Contaminants Carbon Monoxide Fluoride and Fluorine III. Water Pollution Monitoring Three Most Common Electrometric Water Measurements: Conductivity, ph, and Oxidation-Reduction Potential Ion Selective Electrodes Determination of Dissolved Oxygen Organic Carbon Chlorine Residual Analysis Determination of Nitrogenous Materials Electroanalysis for Selected Materials Necessary for Water- Quality Estimation References Chapter 7 The Prospect of Abundant Energy R. Philip Hammond I. Introduction II. Energy Supply through Reactors III. Size Appropriate to Needs IV. Power Distribution V. Energy Centers VI. Power Conversion Equipment and Affect on Costs VII. Social and Environmental Aspects of Low-Cost Energy VIII. Conclusion References Chapter 8 The Hydrogen Economy D. P. Gregory, D. Y. C. Ng, and G. M. Long I. Introduction II. Economic Considerations III. Hydrogen Production Introduction Chemical Hydrogen Manufacturing Processes Electrochemical Hydrogen Manufacturing Processes

11 Contents xiii 4. Chemonuclear Hydrogen Manufacturing Processes Large-Scale Production of Hydrogen IV. Hydrogen Transmission, Storage, and Distribution Transmission of Hydrogen by Pipeline Storage of Hydrogen Distribution of Hydrogen V. Hydrogen-Fueled Equipment Introduction Burner Design Catalytic Burners Internal Combustion Engines VI. Local Electrical Generation from Hydrogen VII. Hazards and Safety Aspects of Hydrogen VIII. Hydrogen as a Chemical Raw Material Acknowledgments References Chapter 9 Hydrometallurgical Treatment of Sulfide Ores for Elimination of SO 2 Emissions by Smelters T. A. Henrie and R. E. Lindstrom I. Introduction II. Hydrometallurgical Procedures for the Recovery of Metal III. Electrode Systems in Electrolysis References Index