THE EFFECT OF COMPLEXING AGENTS AND WEAK ACIDS ON HYDROGEN PENETRATION THROUGH AN ANODICALLY POLARIZED IRON MEMBRANE

The mechanism of how ''anodic'' hydrogen arises is considered, and the effect of the nature of the acid electrolyte on hydrogen flow through an anodically polarized iron membrane is discussed. Anodic hydrogen i s produced because of iron anodic dissolution involving protonated HSO 4- electrolyte forms. Water, participating in the dissolution, causes surface hydroxide to occur, which reduces the rate of hydrogen permeat ion into the metal. Complexing agents, nitriletriacetic acid and alpha ,alpha-dipyridyl, enhance hydrogen permeation by dissolving a prepassi ve hydroxide film.