Bubble Phenomena and Bubble Properties for Horizontal and Vertical Carbon Anode Surfaces in Cryolite Melt Applying a See-Through Cell

Gas bubble behavior on a carbon anode in cryolite melt has been studied using see-through cell. The phenomena have growth, coalescence, detachment, and wetting during electrolysis. surface orientation affects behavior. Therefore, two different designs were tested, an with horizontal downward-facing vertical surface. At the anode, it was found that one large formed by growth coalescence of smaller bubbles, finally, detached periodically. For surface, detaching bubbles smaller, most them had going through process prior to detachment. randomly. from initiation final shape at took about 0.016–0.024 s. current density did not affect duration coalescence. diameter decreasing increasing for both anodes. values range 7.2 5.7 mm interval 0.2–1.0 A cm?2 3.7 1.5 0.1–2.0 cm?2. contact angle stayed more or less constant increase density, which likely can be attributed size rather than polarization. In addition described properties found, impact results better design laboratory-scale studies is discussed.