Cathode Coating for an Electrochemical Cell

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises a surface layer which is repellent towards inorganic material. Such repellent layer may be employed to prevent formation of scale on an electrolytic cell. Also disclosed is an apparatus for cleaning seawater that employs such electrolytic cell, . and a system for injecting cleaned seawater into a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the system comprises tubing, an injection pump, and the seawater cleaning apparatus employing the disclosed electrolytic cell.

Claims

1. An electrolytic cell comprising an anode and a cathode, characterised in that the cathode comprises a surface layer which is repellent towards inorganic material.

2. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the surface layer is equal to or less than 5 μm.

3. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolytic cell is an electro chlorinator for generating chlorine, or a hydroxyl radical generator for generating free radicals.

4. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer is both hydrophobic and oleophobic.

5. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer comprises parachlorobenzotrifluoride and tert-butyl acetate.

6. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer comprises methyl nonafluorobutyl ether and methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.

7. An apparatus for cleaning seawater, wherein the apparatus comprises the electrolytic cell according to claim 1, and wherein the apparatus is configured to be positioned below the seawater surface and to take in surrounding seawater.

8. A system for injecting cleaned seawater into a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the system comprises tubing, an injection pump, and the apparatus according to claim 7.

9. A method of preventing formation of scale on an electrolytic cell comprising using a surface layer which is repellent towards inorganic material.

10. A method for making an electrolytic cell less susceptible to build-up of scale, the electrochemical cell comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein the method comprises the steps of: applying a surface treatment chemical onto a surface of the cathode, wherein the surface treatment chemical is repellent towards inorganic material, and allowing the surface treatment chemical to dry before use of the electrochemical cell.

11. The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein the electrolytic cell is an electro chlorinator for generating chlorine, or a hydroxyl radical generator for generating free radicals.

12. The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein the surface layer is both hydrophobic and oleophobic.

13. The electrolytic cell according to claim 3, wherein the surface layer is both hydrophobic and oleophobic.

14. The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein the surface layer comprises parachlorobenzotrifluoride and tert-butyl acetate.

15. The electrolytic cell according to claim 3, wherein the surface layer comprises parachlorobenzotrifluoride and tert-butyl acetate.

16. The electrolytic cell according to claim 4, wherein the surface layer comprises parachlorobenzotrifluoride and tert-butyl acetate.

17. The electrolytic cell according to claim 2, wherein the surface layer comprises methyl nonafluorobutyl ether and methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.

18. The electrolytic cell according to claim 3, wherein the surface layer comprises methyl nonafluorobutyl ether and methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.

19. The electrolytic cell according to claim 4, wherein the surface layer comprises methyl nonafluorobutyl ether and methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.

20. The electrolytic cell according to claim 5, wherein the surface layer comprises methyl nonafluorobutyl ether and methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0024] In the description that follows, examples of preferred embodiments are described.

EXAMPLE 1

[0025] Treatment of the cathode of an electrochemical cell by the surface treatment chemical E9 Metal Ultimate from the E9 treatment series. A titanium cathode was emerged into a liquid bath containing the step 1 composition, i.e. E9 Metal Advantage, of the E9 Metal Ultimate treatment for 30 seconds, followed by drying in room temperature for 24 hours and heat curing at 80° C. for 1 hour. The E9 Metal Advantage comprises less than 2 wt % hydrochloric acid and less than 90% ethyl alcohol. The titanium cathode was then emerged for 2 minutes, 1 minute on each side, into a liquid bath containing the step 2 composition, i.e. the E9 Pro Premium, of the E9 Metal Ultimate treatment, which comprises less than 5 wt % of a fluoro compound, 20-95 wt % ethyl nonafluorobutyl ether, 20-95 wt % ethyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether, 20-95 wt % methyl nonafluorobutyl ether, and 20-95 wt % methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether, followed by drying for 5 minutes at room temperature. The cathode was then inserted into the electrochemical cell for testing. The subsequent tests revealed that growth of scale was significantly decreased on the treated cathode of the electrochemical cell than on an untreated control cathode.

EXAMPLE 2

[0026] Treatment of the cathode of an electrochemical cell by the surface treatment chemical HD-1 from Surfactis. A titanium cathode was emerged into a liquid bath containing the HD-1 composition for 30 seconds, followed by drying in room temperature for 1 hour. The HD-1 composition comprises less than 5 wt % perfluoropolyether, 20-80 wt % methyl nonafluorobutyl ether, and 20-80 wt % methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether, followed by drying for 1 hour at room temperature. The cathode was then inserted into the electrochemical cell for testing. The subsequent tests revealed that growth of scale was significantly decreased on the treated cathode of the electrochemical cell than on an untreated control cathode.

EXAMPLE 3

[0027] Treatment of the cathode of an electrochemical cell by the surface treatment chemical NS 200 from Nanoslic. A titanium cathode was emerged into a liquid bath containing the NS 200 composition for 30 seconds, followed by drying in room temperature for 1 hour. The NS 200 composition comprises 20-40 wt % parachlorobenzotrifluoride, 20-40 wt % tert-butyl acetate, 20-40 wt % ambient-temperature curable resin, and 3-6 wt % flow agent. The cathode was then inserted into the electrochemical cell for testing. The subsequent tests revealed that growth of scale was significantly decreased on the treated cathode of the electrochemical cell than on an untreated control cathode.

[0028] It should be noted that the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb“comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article“a” or“an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.