APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING ELECTROLYSIS AND ELECTRODE UNIT FOR SUCH AN APPARATUS

An apparatus for conducting an electrolytic process comprises: a container (2;53) having a container interior (3;54) for accommodating at least one electrolyte; an array (26;77) of spaced-apart first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b), arranged in the container (2;53); at least one second electrode (7a,b;58a,b;79), arranged with at least part of a surface thereof exposed to at least part of the container interior (3;54) for accommodating at least one of the at least one electrolytes; and a current supply system for causing electrical current to flow via the second electrode(s) (7a,b;58a,b;79) and major surfaces of the first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) through the at least one electrolyte by establishing potential differences between major surfaces of the first electrode (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) on the one hand and the second electrodes (7a,b;58a,b;79) on the other hand, such that the first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) have an opposite polarity to the polarities of the second electrodes (7a,b;58a,b;79). The array (26;77) of first electrodes (5a,b,6a-d;38a,b,42;56a,b,57a-f;78a,b) includes at least one end electrode (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b) interposed between one of the second electrodes (7a,b;58a,b;79) on the one hand and all of the other first electrodes (6a-d;38a,b,42;57a-f) of the array (26;77) on the other hand. In addition to the end electrode(s) (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b), the array (26;77) of first electrodes includes at least one first electrode (6a-d;38a,b,42;57a-f) other than an end electrode (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b). The apparatus is configured to establish potentials at the major surfaces of least the end electrode(s) (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b) that differ from those at the major surfaces of the first electrodes (6a-d;38a,b,42;57a-f) in the array (26;77) other than the end electrode(s) (5a,b;56a,b;78a,b) by being closer to respective potentials of the second electrode(s) (7a,b;58a,b;79). Appareil destiné à la mise en œuvre d'un processus électrolytique comprenant : un récipient (2 ; 53) comportant un intérieur de récipient (3 ; 54) destiné à recevoir au moins un électrolyte ; un réseau (26 ; 77) de premières électrodes espacées (5a, b, 6a-d ; 38a, b, 42 ; 56a, b, 57a-f ; 78a, b), disposé dans le récipient (2 ; 53) ; au moins une seconde électrode (7a, b ; 58a, b ; 79), disposée de telle sorte qu'au moins une partie de sa surface est en contact avec au moins une partie de l'intérieur du récipient (3 ; 54