Systems and methods for increasing the concentration of a desired CO.sub.x reduction reaction product are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods include ethylene purification.

This invention relates to gaskets, apparatus incorporating said gaskets and to methods of using them. In particular, there is provided a gasket comprising a closed loop of resilient material, the loop having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the gasket having a first thickness at a first position which is between 0% and 30% of the gasket width away from the outer periphery, a second thickness at a second position measured at a point at least 50% of the gasket width from the first position, and a third thickness at a third position intermediate the first and second positions and at least 10% of the gasket width from each, the first thickness being greater than the third thickness which is greater than the second thickness, and wherein either a said gasket reduces in thickness from the first thickness to the third thickness and then to the second thickness via one or more tapered sections which taper linearly to a reduced thickness in the direction towards the inner periphery, or b said gasket reduces in thickness from the first thickness to the third thickness via one or more steps which step to a reduced thickness in the direction towards the inner periphery and then from the third thickness to the second thickness via one or more steps which step to a reduced thickness in the direction towards the inner periphery, or c said gasket reduces in thickness from the first thickness to the third thickness and then to the second thickness via a combination of one or more steps and one or more tapered sections as defined above.

This invention relates to gaskets, apparatus incorporating said gaskets and to methods of using them. In particular, there is provided a gasket comprising a closed loop of resilient material, the loop having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the gasket having a first thickness at a first position which is between 0% and 30% of the gasket width away from the outer periphery, a second thickness at a second position measured at a point at least 50% of the gasket width from the first position, and a third thickness at a third position intermediate the first and second positions and at least 10% of the gasket width from each, the first thickness being greater than the third thickness which is greater than the second thickness, and wherein either a said gasket reduces in thickness from the first thickness to the third thickness and then to the second thickness via one or more tapered sections which taper linearly to a reduced thickness in the direction towards the inner periphery, or b said gasket reduces in thickness from the first thickness to the third thickness via one or more steps which step to a reduced thickness in the direction towards the inner periphery and then from the third thickness to the second thickness via one or more steps which step to a reduced thickness in the direction towards the inner periphery, or c said gasket reduces in thickness from the first thickness to the third thickness and then to the second thickness via a combination of one or more steps and one or more tapered sections as defined above.

To provide an ion exchange membrane for alkali chloride electrolysis which has a low membrane resistance and which is capable of reducing the electrolysis voltage during the alkali chloride electrolysis, while increasing the membrane strength.

An ion exchange membrane 1 for alkali chloride electrolysis wherein a reinforcing material 20 obtained by weaving with reinforcing yarns 22 and sacrificial yarns 24 is embedded in a fluoropolymer having ion exchange groups, the ion exchange membrane 1 comprises elution holes (28) formed by eluting at least a portion of a material of the sacrificial yarns 24, and in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction of the yarns, the total area (S) obtained by adding the cross-sectional area of an elution hole 28 and the cross-sectional area of a sacrificial yarn 24 remaining in the elution hole 28 is from 500 to 1,200 μm.sup.2, and the number (n) of elution holes 28 between adjacent reinforcing yarns 22 is at least 10.

Apparatuses and methods for performing coupled chemical and electrochemical reactions are disclosed. An electrochemical cell has a first reaction chamber configured to perform a chemical reaction and an anode chamber configured to perform an electrochemical reaction. The first reaction chamber and the anode chamber are separated by a first membrane. The first membrane acts as a cathode of the cell, a hydrogen-selective layer and a catalyst. The first membrane may comprise a layer of palladium or a palladium alloy. An ion exchange membrane separates the first membrane and the anode chamber. The chemical and electrochemical reactions may respectively be hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.

Apparatuses and methods for performing coupled chemical and electrochemical reactions are disclosed. An electrochemical cell has a first reaction chamber configured to perform a chemical reaction and an anode chamber configured to perform an electrochemical reaction. The first reaction chamber and the anode chamber are separated by a first membrane. The first membrane acts as a cathode of the cell, a hydrogen-selective layer and a catalyst. The first membrane may comprise a layer of palladium or a palladium alloy. An ion exchange membrane separates the first membrane and the anode chamber. The chemical and electrochemical reactions may respectively be hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.

Provided herein are electrochemical cell and/or electrolyzer configurations with membrane-electrode gap and optionally one or more spacers; and methods to use and manufacture the same.

Provided herein are electrochemical cell and/or electrolyzer configurations with membrane-electrode gap and optionally one or more spacers; and methods to use and manufacture the same.

An electrochemical device includes: an electrolyte membrane; an anode disposed on a first main surface of the electrolyte membrane; a cathode disposed on a second main surface of the electrolyte membrane; an anode separator disposed on the anode; and a cathode separator disposed on the cathode and including a first conductive layer on a surface adjacent to the cathode. The cathode includes a cathode gas diffusion layer. The cathode separator has a recess for storing the cathode gas diffusion layer. The first conductive layer is disposed only on a bottom surface of the recess.

An electrochemical device includes: an electrolyte membrane; an anode disposed on a first main surface of the electrolyte membrane; a cathode disposed on a second main surface of the electrolyte membrane; an anode separator disposed on the anode; and a cathode separator disposed on the cathode and including a first conductive layer on a surface adjacent to the cathode. The cathode includes a cathode gas diffusion layer. The cathode separator has a recess for storing the cathode gas diffusion layer. The first conductive layer is disposed only on a bottom surface of the recess.