Mechanism of Formation of Electrolysis Bubbles in Water and the Use of their Properties for the Development of New Technologies in Microgravity

Abstract

The author's earlier theoretical description of
the mechanism of formation of negatively
charged electrolysis hydrogen bubbles and
control of their size under terrestrial
conditions confirmed experimentally, made it
possible to conclude that negatively charged
bubbles of electrolysis hydrogen, floating up
in a fluid, encounter solid particles on their
way with dimensions much larger than
bubbles induce a positive charge on the
surface of a solid particle. As a result of the
action of the arising electrostatic force of
attraction and the force of surface tension, a
complex is formed: a solid particle, hung with
negatively charged hydrogen bubbles, with a
significantly increased lifting volume. Under
terrestrial conditions, the formed complexes,
due to their increased volumes, float to the
surface of the fluid because of the action of
the Archimedes force, and solid particles are
separated from the fluid. The conducted
studies permitted to use of these unique
properties of electrolyzed hydrogen bubbles
for cleaning of industrial wastewaters and
sewage, clarification of juices and vines, juice,
and unicellular alga concentrates production.
The separation of solid inclusions from fluid
under microgravity conditions plays a
decisive role in the purification of fuel and
special fluids from solid inclusions in the life
support and power supply systems of the
International Space Station. However, under
microgravity conditions, the Archimedes
force is absent and it is necessary to look for
new applications of the properties of
electrolysis hydrogen bubbles for the
separation of solid inclusions from a liquid
under these conditions. The paper discloses
the mechanism of formation of negatively
charged electrolysis hydrogen bubbles and
the use of their properties for separation solid
inclusion from fluid under microgravity

conditions, confirmed experimentally,
permitted to establish the movement of
negatively charged electrolysis hydrogen
bubbles in a fluid in a horizontal direction
towards to the anode due to the arising
electrostatic force of attraction and the
formation of negative shield complexes:
hydrogen bubbles + solid particle, and the
movement these complexes towards to the
positively charged anode. In this case, the
main role in the separation of solid inclusion
from the fluid is played by the conical shape
of the separator, which allows draining all
liquid: purified in the near-cathode zone and

concentrated by solid particles in the near-
anode zone, into different ampoules. The

conducted research permitted the

construction of a special concentrator-
separator capable of operating on the

International Space Station.