Process for electrolysis

A process for the electrochemical decomposition of an aqueous solution of an ionizable chemical compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal halides and hydrochloric acid, which process comprises introducing an aqueous solution of said ionizable chemical compound into the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell;

• wherein said electrolytic cell comprises a cell body having an anode compartment containing an anode, a cathode compartment containing a cathode, and at least two buffer compartments therebetween, said anode compartment being separated from the next adjacent buffer compartment by a barrier which is substantially impervious to fluids and gases, said barriers being a membrane selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzed copolymer of a perfluorinated hyrocarbon and a sulfonated perfluorovinyl ether, and a sulfostyrenated perfluorinated ethylene propylene polymer, said cathode compartment being separated from the next adjacent buffer compartment by a porous diaphragm;
• introducing a second aqueous solution into said buffer and cathode compartments, and effecting the electrolytic decomposition of said ionizable solution by passing an electric current between the anode and cathode of said cell.