TRICKLE BED ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTORS

Electrochemical processes involving gaseous reactants can be carried out in fixed bed electrodes with co-current downward flow of gas and electrolyte solution. Bench scale experiments with the electroreduction of oxygen, the electroreduction of sulfur dioxide, and the electrowinning of copper in such “trickle bed” electrodes show that the electrochemical power efficiency can be increased by co-current gas loads up to 0.5 kg/m2 sec. Preliminary tests on a scaled up trickle bed electrode of dimensions 2m high × 0.25m wide × 3 mm thick outline potential problems with electrolyte dispersion and current distribution in such a device. © 1979, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.