Generation of chlorine-chlorine dioxide mixtures

An electrolytic gas generator comprising

• a hollow container having a pair of walls, each including a permeable membrane, dividing said container into three compartments,
• one of said membranes being an anion exchange membrane,
• the other of said membranes being a cation exchange membrane,
• an anode positioned in the end compartment adjacent to said anion exchange membrane,
• a cathode positioned in the end compartment adjacent to said cation exchange membrane,
• a bipolar electrode positioned in the middle compartment between said membranes and being of a size and shape permitting free circulation of electrolyte therearound and being exposed on all sides to the same aqueous electrolyte and
• said generator being operable, when filled with an aqueous solution of chloride salt in said anode-containing compartment and in said bipolar electrode-containing compartment, and with aqueous electrolyte in said cathode-containing compartment and energized, to produce chlorine dioxide or a mixture of chlorine and chlorine dioxide in said anode-containing compartment.

A water treating system comprising

• a conduit for conducting water,
• gas-water mixing means positioned in said conduit for flow of water therethrough,
• a chlorine/chlorine dioxide generator connected to said mixing means to introduce a chlorine/chlorine dioxide mixture thereto, and comprising
• a hollow container having a pair of walls, each including a permeable membrane, dividing said container into three compartments,
• one of said membranes being an anion exchange membrane,
• the other of said membranes being a cation exchange membrane,
• an anode positioned in the end compartment adjacent to said anion exchange membrane,
• a cathode positioned in the end compartment adjacent to said cation exchange membrane,
• a bipolar electrode positioned in the middle compartment between said membranes and being of a size and shape permitting free circulation of electrolyte therearound and being exposed on all sides to the same aqueous electrolyte,
• said generator being operable, when filled with an aqueous solution of chloride salt in said anode-containing compartment and in said bipolar electrode-containing compartment, and with aqueous electrolyte in said cathode-containing compartment and energized, to produce chlorine dioxide or a mixture of chlorine and chlorine dioxide in said anode-containing compartment, and
• means forming outlets from said end compartments for conducting chlorine/chlorine dioxide and hydrogen therefrom.