Electrolysis method of electrolyzing halides

In a method of generating halogen by electrolyzing an aqueous halide solution carried out in a cell comprising an ion permeable diaphragm, oppositely charged gas and liquid permeable electrodes extending along and in contact with opposite sides of said diaphragm, at least one of said electrodes comprising a porous layer of particles of a conductive electro-catalytic material, bonded to one side of said diaphragm, and current distributing means pressed against said porous layer by compressing means, the improvement consisting in that said current distributing means comprises a resilient compressible electro-conductive metal fabric being capable of being compressed in the direction of the diaphragm and to exert an elastic reaction force towards the diaphragm at a multiplicity of pressure points and capable to transfer excess resilient force acting on one or more pressure points to other neighbouring pressure points in a lateral direction along a major dimension of the mat whereby compressing pressure can be effectively distributed over the entire surface of the layer, said mat being open to permit flow of electrolyte through it, means slideable with respect to the mat to compress the mat toward the diaphragm and a rigid support on the other side of the flexible diaphragm to restrain diaphragm displacement.