A bipolar cell for a reactor for treatment of electrolyte such as waste water and effluent or for electrosynthesis comprises end electrodes and at least one bipolar electrode therebetween. The or each bipolar electrode comprises a diamond sheet. The cell includes a porous support structure, for example in the form of spacers, a lattice of plastic rods, or a woven mesh, between each end electrode and the adjacent diamond sheet, there being porous support structure between the or each pair of adjacent diamond sheets, the support structures acting to contact or support the or each diamond sheet.

A method for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. The method allows starting up the electrolytic cell while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. A thermal insulation allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. The method allows accurate positioning of anode assemblies over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell.

A method for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. The method allows starting up the electrolytic cell while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. A thermal insulation allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. The method allows accurate positioning of anode assemblies over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell.

An electrolytic cell for producing primary aluminum by using inert anodes is disclosed, in which an electrolyte system KFNaFAlF.sub.3 is used and the operating temperature of the cell is 700-850 C. The electrolytic cell comprises a cell shell, heat insulating refractory lining, a melting pot, a heat insulating cover, inert electrodes, electrode stems, anode bus-bars, cathode bus-bars, anode branching bus-bars, heat insulating plates, partitions between anodes and cathodes and a feeding device. The quality of the aluminum product obtained by using the electrolytic cell is not less than 99.7%. The cell is free from emission of carbon dioxide and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and hardly has consumption of electrodes, so the distances between anodes and cathodes can be kept stable. The cell is sealed and the volatilization of dust and fluorides can be prevented, and it is useful to recover oxygen gas.

An anode servicing assembly (30, 35) for an aluminium electrolysis plant, said aluminium electrolysis plant comprising at least one line (L1, L2) of electrolysis cells (C1-Cn, C1-Cn) connected in series, each cell having a plurality of anode assemblies (5) connected to an anode beam,

said anode servicing assembly comprising: an elongated body (31), running means adapted to allow movement of said elongated body along a running direction, substantially parallel to main axis of said line (L1, L2), an anode servicing machine (32) mounted on said elongated body, said anode servicing machine comprising at least two operating devices (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95), each adapted to fulfil at least one specific function different from cell lifting and anode beam raising, at least two support assemblies (40, 50, 60, 62, 70, 72, 80, 81, 82, 83, 90, 91, 92, 93), each adapted to support a respective operating device with respect to said elongated body,
said operating devices (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95) being movable independently the one with respect to the other, along at least one of a longitudinal axis (L31) of said elongated body (31) and a vertical axis (ZZ).

An anode servicing assembly (30, 35) for an aluminium electrolysis plant, said aluminium electrolysis plant comprising at least one line (L1, L2) of electrolysis cells (C1-Cn, C1-Cn) connected in series, each cell having a plurality of anode assemblies (5) connected to an anode beam,

said anode servicing assembly comprising: an elongated body (31), running means adapted to allow movement of said elongated body along a running direction, substantially parallel to main axis of said line (L1, L2), an anode servicing machine (32) mounted on said elongated body, said anode servicing machine comprising at least two operating devices (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95), each adapted to fulfil at least one specific function different from cell lifting and anode beam raising, at least two support assemblies (40, 50, 60, 62, 70, 72, 80, 81, 82, 83, 90, 91, 92, 93), each adapted to support a respective operating device with respect to said elongated body,
said operating devices (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95) being movable independently the one with respect to the other, along at least one of a longitudinal axis (L31) of said elongated body (31) and a vertical axis (ZZ).