Countercurrent‐exchange‐electrolysis applied to a lead‐thallium system

Abstract

AbstractA simple method has been developed for testing the column performance in countercurrent‐exchange‐electrolysis. This separation process is based on an exchange between an electrolyte phase and an electrode phase like an amalgam, transported in countercurrent through a column.Lead and thallium appeared to be a suitable metal pair for testing exchange columns.When dissolved in an acidic medium lead and thallium are difficult to separate and thus suitable for the determination of large plate numbers. However, when dissolved in an alkaline medium, these two metals may be simply analyzed by means of a polarograph.The performance of a sand filled column with a length of 1 m was tested by exchange experiments without application of reflux. Plate numbers of 50 ± 20 and 20 ± 5 per m were obtained using flow rates of 0.1 and 0.2 ml/min cm2 respectively.The concentration distribution in a column without a reflux section is dicussed.