Process for electrolytic production of alkali metal chlorate and auxiliary chemicals

A process for the production of alkali metal chlorate by electrolysis, comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining purified alkali metal chloride by purification of technical grade alkali metal chloride in at least one ion-exchange step;
• (b) obtaining an aqueous solution comprising a first portion of the purified alkali metal chloride from step (a) and water, said aqueous solution forming a first alkali metal chloride electrolyte;
• (c) electrolyzing the first alkali metal chloride electrolyte from step (b), thereby forming alkali metal chlorate in the electrolyte;
• (d) alkalizing a portion of the chlorate in the electrolyte obtained from step (c);
• (e) evaporation the water from the alkalized electrolyte from step (d) in a crystallizer, to thereby precipitate alkali metal chlorate and form a mother liquor;
• (f) condensing the water evaporated in step (e) in an indirect condenser;
• (g) combining a first portion of the condensed water from step (f) and a second portion of the purified alkali metal chloride from step (a) to form a substantially chlorate free second alkali metal chloride electrolyte;
• (h) electrolyzing the second alkali metal chloride electrolytic from step (g) to form alkali metal hydroxide;
• (i) using at least a portion of the alkali metal hydroxide from step (h) for alkalization in step (d);
• and
• (j) using the mother liquor separated in step (e) and a second portion of the condensed water from step (f) for obtaining the aqueous solution in step (b).