Electrolytic process for potassium hydroxide

A process for the production of chlorine gas and potassium hydroxide by the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of potassium chloride in an electrolytic cell having an anode compartment containing an anode and a cathode compartment containing a cathode, said process comprising:

• a. separating said anode compartment from said cathode compartment with a cation permselective membrane comprised of a hydrolyzed copolymer of a perfluoroolefin and a fluorosulfonated perfluorovinyl ether of the formula
• FSO.sub.2 CFRCF.sub.2 O[CFYCF.sub.2 O].sub.n CF.dbd.CF.sub.2
• where R is a radical selected from the group consisting of fluorine and perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms;
• Y is a radical selected from the group consisting of fluorine and trifluoromethyl;
• and n is an integer of 0 to about 3, said hydrolyzed copolymer having an equivalent weight of from about 900 to about 1600,
• b. introducing said aqueous solution of said potassium chloride containing from about 250 to about 350 grams per liter of KCl into said anode compartment,
• c. impressing an electrolyzing current between said anode and said cathode to produce chlorine gas in said anode compartment and an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide in said cathode compartment,
• d. maintaining the concentration of said aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide at from about 410 to about 480 grams per liter of KOH in said cathode compartment.