Research on the Influence of Electrode Arrangement in Diaphragm Electrolytic Cells on Electrolytic Efficiency

Abstract An electrochemical diaphragm electrolysis method was employed to investigate the anodic oxidation of Fe 2 ⁺, focusing on the effects of three electrode arrangements—single‐slot monopolar, double‐slot monopolar, and double‐slot bipolar—on electrolysis efficiency. The experimental results showed that the current density variation with voltage in the single‐slot monopolar arrangement followed a logistic equation, with d J /d U reaching its maximum at around 8 V. Within the tested voltage range of 0 ∼ 20 V, the d J /d U values for both the double‐slot monopolar and bipolar arrangements exhibited significant variations. At 30 ± 1 °C, the electrolysis efficiency increased with current density: the Fe 2 ⁺ conversion efficiency rose from 90% to 92% (monopolar) and from 80% to 90% (bipolar), with the latter showing a more pronounced improvement. Increasing the temperature mitigated polarization effects, with the optimal Fe 2 ⁺ conversion efficiency (95%) observed in 40 ∼ 50 °C.