Electrochemical process for producing chlorine dioxide solutions from chlorites

A process for electrolytically producing an aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide in an electrolytic cell having an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and at least one ion exchange compartment between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment, the process which comprises feeding an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorite to the ion exchange compartment, electrolyzing an anolyte in the anode compartment to generate hydrogen ions, passing the hydrogen ions from the anode compartment through a cation exchange membrane into the ion exchange compartment to displace alkali metal ions and produce an aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide passing alkali metal ions from the ion exchange compartment into the cathode compartment, removing the aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide from the ion exchange compartment, separating chlorine dioxide gas from an aqueous solution having reduced concentrations of alkali metal chlorite, and feeding the aqueous solution to the cathode compartment.