Process and installation for electrolysis by percolation across one or several porous volumic electrodes

PCT No. PCT/FR87/00192 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 2, 1988 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 2, 1988 PCT Filed Jun. 2, 1987 PCT Pub. No. WO87/07653 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 17, 1987.The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for electrolysis by percolation through at least one porous volumic electrode, for carrying out an electrochemical reaction. The process is of the type comprising electrically polarizing each volumic electrode formed by a conductive bed of solid particles (2), and causing a liquid electrolyte to circulate through said volumic electrode. The process according to the invention is characterized in causing a periodic pulsation of the electrolyte, such that the particles of the bed forming the volumic electrode are placed in a state of fluidization during one fraction of the cycle of pulsation and remain in a fixed bed during the remainder of the cycle with reversal of the direction of circulation. The process suppresses the phenomena of clogging while providing an excellent coefficient of transfer, without disturbing the selectivity of the electrochemical reaction.