Methods and Apparatus for Producing Ferrate(VI)

1 . An undivided electrochemical cell comprising:

a housing defining an undivided chamber, the housing having one electrolyte inlet and at least two outlets;

an anode in the chamber;

a cathode in the chamber; and

an electrolyte in the chamber,

wherein the anode and the cathode are not gas diffusion electrodes.

2 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the housing has two electrolyte outlets.

3 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 further comprising a fluid flow controller in fluid communication with the electrolyte outlets.

4 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein the fluid flow controller is selected from flow restrictions, valves, screens, fluid flow constrictions, bends or weirs.

5 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the anode is made of a material containing iron.

6 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the anode is selected from solid iron plate, expanded metal mesh, wire mesh, woven metal cloth, wire, rod, or combinations thereof.

7 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the anode is selected from iron, steel, “dimensionally stabilized anode”(DSA), titanium, platinum, iridium, and other oxidation resistant electrolytically conductive materials.

8 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein a ratio of a surface area of the anode to a surface area of the cathode is in the range of 1 to at least about 10.

9 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein said cathode has a physically displaced area that interfaces least 90%, and preferably about 100%, and most preferably 110% of the anode area.

10 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the cathode is made of a material selected from nickel, titanium, platinum, tin, lead, stainless steel, graphite, iron or alloys thereof, or laminates or claddings thereof.

11 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the cathode is selected from solid plate, expanded metal mesh, wire mesh, woven metal cloth, wire, rod, or combinations thereof.

12 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte is an alkaline solution of hydroxide.

13 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein the hydroxides are selected from NaOH, KOH, or combinations thereof.

14 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein the hydroxides are selected from >BioH, KOH, and combinations thereof.

15 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein the electrolyte comprises a mixture of KOH and NaOH, and wherein a molar concentration of NaOH is greater than about 5.

16 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 15 wherein the electrolyte comprises about 40 to about 45 wt % NaOH and about 0.1 to about 8 wt % KOH.

17 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 further comprising a screen between the anode and the cathode.

18 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 17 wherein the screen is made of plastic.

19 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 17 wherein the screen has a mesh size such to occupy at least 25%, preferably at least 50%, and most preferably at least 75% of the area between the anode and cathode surfaces, in which the open area consists of small openings, as is provided by a screen or the equivalent.

20 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein the plastic is selected from polyolefins, fluoropolymers, or polyvinyl chloride.

21 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the housing is made of a material selected from metal, fiberglass, reinforced plastic (thermoplastic or thermoset) concrete, rubber, or combinations thereof, including constructed as a corrosion resistant liner within rigid-walled structure.

22 . The undivided electrochemical cell of claim 1 further comprising a variable DC power supply operatively connected to the electrochemical cell.