Production of halogens in an electrolysis cell with catalytic electrodes bonded to an ion transporting membrane and an oxygen depolarized cathode

A process of generating chlorine which comprises electrolyzing an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid between an anode and cathode electrode separated by an ion exchanging membrane said cathode comprising a layer of catalytic particles bonded to the ion exchanging membranes to provide a gas permeable electrode which forms a unitary electrode-membrane structure, applying a potential to the electrodes through separate electron conductive current collectors in physical contact with the electrochemically active actalytic particles, passing an oxygen containing gaseous stream over said cathode to depolarize the electrode cathode to form water and thereby prevent hydrogen discharge at said cathode, and said anode electrode comprises a plurality of electrocatalytic particles bonded to the surface of the ion exchange membrane to provide a gas and electrolyte permeable electrode.

The process for generating chlorine and alkali which comprises electrolyzing an aqueous alkali metal chloride between an anode and a cathode separated by an ion exchanging membrane, at least the cathode electrode comprising a plurality of electroconductive catalytic particles bonded to said membrane to provide a gas and electrolyte permeable electrode to form a unitary electrode-membrane structure, applying a potential to the electrode through a separate electron conductive current collector in physical contact with the electrochemically active catalytic material bonded to the membrane, passing oxygen bearing gaseous stream to said cathode electrode to depolarize said electrode and to prevent hydrogen discharge at said electrode, said anode comprises a mass of electrocatalytic particles bonded to the surface of the ion exchange membrane.