A catalytic system for CO.sub.2 capture and sequestration. The system includes a reduction cell for separating a carrier medium having an anode generating oxygen, a cathode generating hydrogen, and a CO precursor from the carrier medium. In addition, the system includes a power supply for providing electrical power to the anode and the cathode. An electrolysis process occurs where oxygen, hydrogen, CO precursors are produced. The anode and the cathode include a plurality of geometrical constructs to increase an active surface area of a catalytic surface of the anode and cathode to increase an efficiency of the electrolysis process. The geometrical constructs may include vias and pillars. In one embodiment, a capillary action is produced for CO.sub.2 sequestration across the catalytic surface having a plurality of vias.

This invention relates to a liquid degassing means, and method of operation. The means comprises a tank, the tank having one or more baffle(s) within the body of the tank, with at least one baffle defining a first and second region. The first region houses relatively turbulent conditions compared to the second region. There is a both a gas transfer gap and a liquid transfer gap, allowing the transmission of fluid from the first to second regions. An inlet introduced the mixture to be degassed to an antechamber, with the fluid travelling onwards to the first region, and then through the gas and liquid transfer gaps to the second region. A first outlet allows for the degassed liquid to leave the tank, and a second outlet allows for the purged gas mixture to also leave the tank. Sensors and complementary control units allow for better operation of the unit.

A method for electrochemical hydrogen compression. The method includes: providing hydrogen gas having a relative humidity RH of 100%; providing inert gas having a relative humidity RH of 100%; mixing the humidified hydrogen gas and the humidified inert gas; electrochemically oxidizing the hydrogen gas at an anode; transporting the protons obtained as a result of the oxidation and at least a portion of the humidified inert gas through a membrane; and electrochemically reducing the protons at a cathode into hydrogen.

An optical device includes an intermetallic compound of a first metal and a second metal having a lower work function than the first metal, or a solid-solution alloy of the first metal and the second metal and includes an n-type semiconductor in Schottky junction with the intermetallic compound or the solid-solution alloy.

A bipolar plate for an electrolyzer, particularly a PEM electrolyzer, is formed with a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region. With a view to cost-effective production of the bipolar plate, the central region is made of metal sheet and the peripheral region is formed from a plastic frame. The plastic frame is made of at least one thermoplastic, particularly at least one high-temperature thermoplastic, and is injection-molded around the sheet metal.

To make it possible to detect whether leakage is external leakage or cross leakage in a water electrolyzer, a valve installed in an oxygen-side path, and a valve installed in a hydrogen-side path are closed; a water electrolysis reaction at a water electrolytic cell is progressed, and leakage in the oxygen-side path and leakage in the hydrogen-side path are determined based on the change in an internal pressure; and a differential pressure is made between the oxygen-side path and the hydrogen-side path, and leakage from a solid polymer electrolyte membrane is determined based on the change in the differential pressure.

Described herein are systems and methods for the management and control of electrolyte within confined electrochemical cells or groups (e.g. stacks) of connected electrochemical cells, for example, in an electrolyzer. Various embodiments of systems and methods provide for the elimination of parasitic conductive paths between cells, and/or precise passive control of fluid pressures within cells. In some embodiments, a fixed volume of electrolyte is substantially retained within each cell while efficiently collecting and removing produced gases or other products from the cell.

Disclosed is a new method, and a system, for increasing the pH of a composition applied on teeth and/or gums. The composition is gelable under the influence of a pH change. The pH change typically is a pH increase in the event of a direct pH-triggered gelation. The pH change typically is a pH decrease in the event of gelation induced by ions, such as calcium ions, released from a pH-sensitive carrier. The device comprises a dispensing unit for the composition, a distal end of which is adapted to apply said substance onto teeth or gums. The device further comprises an electrode system comprising first and second electrodes, the first electrode being adapted to be held against the composition at a location at or near teeth or gums, and the second electrode being adapted to be held against the composition at a location away from teeth or gums, The electrode system is adapted so as to provide an electrical potential difference of 1.5 to 10 Volt between the electrodes.

A method includes operating a water electrolysis device for producing hydrogen and oxygen from water. A PEM electrolyzer (1) is integrated in a water circuit (4) in the electrolysis device. The water circuit (4) feeds reaction water as well as discharges excess water. The water circuit (4) is lead past the PEM electrolyzer (1) via a bypass conduit (14) on starting up the water electrolysis device.

The present invention relates to an electrolyzed water manufacturing device for producing hypochlorous acid water containing hypochlorous acid using hydrochloric acid as an electrolyte, comprising: a hydrochloric acid container for storing the hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte; an electrolytic bath which is connected to the hydrochloric acid container, includes an electrode, and produces slightly weak acidic hypochlorous acid water containing a high-density chlorine solution through electrolysis of the hydrochloric acid; a hydrochloric acid supply pump provided between the hydrochloric acid container and the electrolytic bath so as to supply the hydrochloric acid to the electrolytic bath; and a venturi pipe which is connected to an upper part of the electrolytic bath, is formed between an inlet and an outlet through which dilution water passes, includes a neck part having a smaller pipe diameter in comparison with the inlet and the outlet, and an extraction pipe for connecting the neck part and the electrolytic bath, such that the high-density chlorine solution generated from the electrolytic bath is aspirated through the reduction of the pressure generated from the neck part when the dilution water passes through, and the aspirated high-density chlorine solution is diluted using the dilution solution and the diluted high-density chlorine solution is discharged. The apparatus for producing slightly weak acidic hypochlorous acid water, according to the present invention further, comprises: a discharging pipe connected to the outlet of the venturi pipe; and a screw blade which is inserted into the discharging pipe and accelerates the contact reaction between the high-density chlorine solution discharged from the non-diaphragm type electrolytic bath and the dilution water, wherein the screw blade is preferably composed of flexible plastic material.