Photoelectrochemical generation of thallium(III)
US4371431A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/133
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Thallium(III) is produced in solution using a photoelectrochemical cell which has an externally electrically interconnected semiconductor photoelectrode and counter electrode. A conductive solution containing thallium(I) is placed in the cell and a flow of current generated by exposing the photoelectrode to actinic radiation, thereby oxidizing the thallium. In another embodiment, a thallium(III) solution is produced by mixing a solution containing thallium(I) with a particulate semiconductor, introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the mixture, and exposing the mixture to actinic radiation. The produced thallium(III) can be reacted with organic compounds, for example with compounds containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond to form epoxides, concurrently reducing thallium. Continuous production can be obtained by recycling the reduced thallium by photoelectrochemical oxidation to thallium(III).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.