Gualterio_Malatesta
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Diaphragm electrolysis cell with latex (glove) as a diaphragm
Am I correct in understanding that latex (gloves or condoms) is interchangeable with terracotta diaphragms? And as latex is much thinner than
terracotta, it probably provides less current resistance. Are there any comparisons in resistance and other diaphragm qualities between the two in
terms of electrolysis?
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MrDoctor
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it depends, clay is porous, so inevitably allows some interaction or leakage between the anolyte and catholyte. latex ive only ever heard be used for
organic electrosynthesis involving things like alcohols, where the anolyte and catholyte use specifically different electrolytes in those cases like
an acid on one side and an ammonium salt or phosphate buffer on the other side. so id say, sure, it could work as long as both sides can be the same,
and the oxidized and reduced products wont poison the other side if they migrate over. theres no leakage of ions through latex, which is kind of the
point, or else youd end up pregnant or burned. with porous seperators, electrochemical charges/field forces tend to keep the things seperated, the
material works like a valve where the desire to diffuse through is weaker than the ion/anions attraction to its respective electrode, in the case of
electrolysis of things like salts, but also, intermixing of the chambers doesnt result in irreversible destruction of the products, just inefficiency.
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Pumukli
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No.
Actually in testing the structural integrity of condoms they fill and inflate them with salt water and push them into a salt water bath at one point.
One electrode goes into the outside salt water bath, the other is into the metal "finger" that holds the condom. If there is a leak (macroscopic hole)
then the conductivity betrays it and the thing goes to the bin. So it seems that a good condom is a high resistance barrier and not a good substitute
for a porous cup.
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MrDoctor
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isnt there a point at which voltage overcomes that though? im pretty sure ive heard someone say they turned the voltage up to like 20V to get it to
work once but it did, either making lead dioxide electrode or, testing one, for the purposes of containing any lead exfoliation, in an experiment.
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Gualterio_Malatesta
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I did a quick test with latex glove and graphite anode/SS cathode. Anolyte was acetic acid and a bit of sodium acetate, and catholyte was sodium
chloride. PC PSU 12V was used, current started at 180 mA and raised to 270 mA at the end. In an hour catholyte became basic (as indicated by the test
strips, I didn't bother to check the exact pH) and white flakes appeared to be floating on top of the solution. So I assume NaOH was formed.
[Edited on 7-9-2025 by Gualterio_Malatesta]
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angrygiraffe
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I’ve tried messing around with both, and no, latex doesn’t really work like terracotta. Latex is basically non-porous, so ions can’t get through
— it just blocks the current. Terracotta, being porous ceramic, actually lets ions move while keeping the two sides separated.
So latex = barrier, terracotta = diaphragm. If you want something thinner with less resistance, you’d need a proper ion-exchange membrane (like
Nafion), not latex.
Let nature take its course,without comparing anything!
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Gualterio_Malatesta
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That's what confuses me, Google and AI say that latex is not conductive and is not suitable for electrolysis. But how do you explain my test run with
a latex glove?
By the end of the run the anode in the latex glove fell into the solution and the copper wire got disintegrated, coloring the anolyte blue which did
not diffuse into catholyte, which meant that the solutions were separate, but the current was still running and the electrolysis going, which could
mean only one thing - latex is conductive at least to some degree. Not only that but anolyte was acidic and catholyte basic.
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yobbo II
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Latex is a vague term.
Latex is generally made up of around 55 to 65 percent water and 30 to 40 percent of rubber material. It also may contains sugar, resin, protein and
ash. When latex is processed into a workable material like a surgical glove, it undergoes exposure to sulfur, carbon black and oil. These materials
are used to make the latex stronger and easier to manipulate and use.
Read More: https://www.sciencing.com/latex-specifications-properties-76...
I have seenn lamb skin condoms (made from sheeps guts!) being touted as useful for a diaphram.
https://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=20858
Yob
[Edited on 9-9-2025 by yobbo II]
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bnull
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Quote: Originally posted by Gualterio_Malatesta  | | That's what confuses me, Google and AI say that latex is not conductive and is not suitable for electrolysis. But how do you explain my test run with
a latex glove? |
The gloves are somewhat permeable.
J. DeGroot-Kosolcheroert, J. M. Joan, Permeability of latex and vinyl gloves to water and blood, American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 17,
Issue 4, p.196-201, August 1989, https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-6553(89)90128-4
S. Banaee, S. S. Que Hee, Glove permeation of chemicals, parts 1 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8005623/) and 2 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7960877/)
Edit: Typo.
[Edited on 11-9-2025 by bnull]
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