Re: Helmholtz Layer electrode

[Frederick Sparber]

This goes a long way towards explaining why the combined

Baking Soda-Borax increased the cell current by nearly 400 times

over what it was using distilled (CO2 laced)  water.

 

Since  Hydrogen Peroxide HO-OH decomposes in alkali, the OH

should come off the SS plate surfaces. Possibly the release of CO2

From HCO3 - at the interface keeps them from interacting to form H2O + O2 in

the cell.

 

http://www.borax.com/detergents/pheffect.html#

 

Sodium borate salts are classic alkaline buffers in detergent formulations, with pH determined principally by the acid:base ratio, i.e. [H+]=Ka[H3BO3] / [B(OH)-4]. Borax is particularly effective as it releases boric acid and its conjugate base B(OH)-4 in equal amounts. An essential function of detergent buffers is the ability to maintain the wash liquor in the pH range of 9 - 10.5. In this alkalinity range the effectiveness of detergents is optimized and hence good pH buffering makes a direct contribution to the washing process. Borates buffer in precisely this region, and can produce a pH jump effect, which is useful in certain detergent applications. Alkaline buffering Under alkaline washing conditions the surfaces of soil particles and the substrates (e.g. fabrics, tableware or hard surfaces) to which they adhere, acquire negative electrostatic charges and repel each other, loosening the soil into the liquor and inhibiting redeposition.

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Frederick Sparber

To: vortex-l

Sent: 6/1/2006 8:50:19 PM

Subject: Re: Helmholtz Layer electrode

To recap a bit. The distilled water in the 12 wall-plate cell (12 volt 10 floated plates) 

gave a reading of about 2 milliamperes, adding a small amount of

baking soda (NaHCO3) boosted the current to about 20 milliamperes which

figures since no matter the amount of NaHCO3 in solution

the pH locks at 8.3.

We added a small amount of Borax (Na2B407-10 H2O) which

forms 2 Na+ +  B4O7=  which undergoes hydrolysis to

Boric Acid  4 H3BO3 + 2 OH -.

 

The current stabilized at ~ 800 milliamperes with lots

of gas production inflating a balloon, which my

able-bodied "lackey" stored away and refuses to light until

"maybe on the 4th of July" but he has the unit set up on a vehicle

ready for a road test. :-)

 

Fred

 

Sodium Perborate:

 

http://www.chem-world.com/htm/product/sodium_perborate.htm

 

NaBO3.H2O
"Sodium perborate monohydrate is prepared by dehydrating sodium perborate tetrahydrate. The monohydrated form is essentially showing three advantages in comparison with the tetrahydrated form: a higher content of available oxygen, a higher heat stability and a higher dissolution rate into water. It provides a high available oxygen content equivalent to 32% hydrogen peroxide - 50% more active oxygen than the same weight of sodium perborate tetrahydrate. Sodium perborate releases nascent oxygen at elevated temperatures, it is a stable, solid source of active oxygen"

 

Sodium Percarbonate

 

http://www.chem-world.com/htm/product/sodium_percarbonate.htm

 

2Na2CO3.3H2O2

"Sodium percarbonate is a free-flowing powder with a common name of solid hydrogen peroxide, it is an addition compound of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. Sodium Percarbonate has an active available oxygen content which is equivalent to 27.5% H2O2. It breaks down to oxygen, water and sodium carbonate upon decomposition"