Hooker cells

There are different ways of producing chlorine from brine, for example, Dow cells, Hooker cells, and mercury cells. Which process is to be used must be known in order to make an accurate economic evaluation, since the capital costs and operating costs are different for each of these processes. The process engineer may have to investigate the different processes and economically evaluate each before deciding which process is best. 

Following the invention of deposited asbestos diaphragms, Stuart developed the Hooker S cell, which had vertical cathode fingers with deposited diaphragms. These S cells were very popular after World War II and were phased into operation throughout the world. In 1960, almost 60% of the chlorine production is the United States was in Hooker cells. 

ELTECH System Corporation currently markets both the Hooker cells and Diamond cells. Other diaphragm-cell technologies developed during the 1970s include the Hooker-Uhde cell and the ICI-Solvay cell. These cell designs are addressed in Chapter 5. 

Hooker Chemicals and Plastics Corporation also modified drastically the power profile of its cells by incorporating similar Improvement in their construction. Table IV shows an analysis of voltage improvement in Hooker cells for two generations of electrolysers (24). 

Table IV. Analysis of voltage improvements at 1 kA/m in Hooker cells...

Sodium hydroxide is manufactured by electrolysis of concentrated aqueous sodium chloride the other product of the electrolysis, chlorine, is equally important and hence separation of anode and cathode products is necessary. This is achieved either by a diaphragm (for example in the Hooker electrolytic cell) or by using a mercury cathode which takes up the sodium formed at the cathode as an amalgam (the Kellner-Solvay ceW). The amalgam, after removal from the electrolyte cell, is treated with water to give sodium hydroxide and mercury. The mercury cell is more costly to operate but gives a purer product. 

Gao, J., Hooker. B.S., and Anderson, D.B. (2004). Expression of functional human coagnlation factor XIII A-domain in plant cell snspension s and whole plants. Protein Exp. Purif. 37(1) 89-96. 

The most widely used brine electrolytic cells are the Hooker and Diamond Shamrock which are both monopolar, but bipolar designs like that of Figure 19.19(a) also are popular. That figure does not indicate the presence of a diaphragm but one must be used. 

Chace,J.H., Hooker, N.A., Mildenstein, K.L., Krieg, A.M. and Cowdery,J.S. (1997) Bacterial DNA-induced NK cell IFN-gamma production is dependent on macrophage secretion of IL-12. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 84, 185-193. 

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