Method for operating electrolytic diaphragm cells
AssigneeOlin Corporation
InventorsRonald L. Dotson, David D. Justice, Han C. Kuo
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Abstract
The electrolysis of alkali metal chloride solutions in a diaphragm cell having an anode compartment separated from a cathode compartment by a porous perfluorosulfonic acid resin diaphragm is optimized by maintaining the pH of the alkali metal chloride solution in the range of from about 3.0 to about 5.0. In this pH range, highly desirable bulk flow properties are obtained by controlling the dimensional stability of the perfluorosulfonic acid resin.
Claims11
In a method for controlling the flow properties of a porous diaphragm in an electrolytic cell for producing chlorine gas and a caustic liquor by the electrolysis of an alkali metal chloride solution, said electrolytic cell comprised of an anode compartment containing said alkali metal chloride solution and a cathode compartment containing said caustic liquor, said anode compartment separated from said cathode compartment by said porous diaphragm consisting essentially of a perfluorosulfonic acid ion exchange resin having an acid form and an alkali metal salt form, said method being characterized by the improvement which comprises maintaining the pH of said alkali metal chloride solution in said anode compartment at from about 3.0 to about 5.0.
In a method for controlling the flow properties of a porous diaphragm in an electrolytic cell for producing chlorine gas and a caustic liquor by the electrolysis of an alkali metal chloride solution, said electrolytic cell comprised of an anode compartment containing said alkali metal chloride solution and a cathode compartment containing said caustic liquor, said anode compartment separated from said cathode compartment by said porous diaphragm consisting essentially of a perfluorosulfonic acid resin having an acid form and an alkali metal salt form, said method being characterized by the improvement which comprises maintaining at least 95 percent of said perfluorosulfonic acid resin in said alkali metal salt form by soaking said perfluorosulfonic acid resin with said alkali metal chloride solution at a pH of from about 3.0 to about 5.0.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.