Electrochemical process for generating chlorine dioxide using chloric acid-alkali metal chlorate mixtures

Abstract

An aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate is produced 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 comprises feeding an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorate 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 chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate, passing alkali metal ions from the ion exchange compartment into the cathode compartment, removing the aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate from the ion exchange compartment, and reacting the aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate with a strong acid having a dissociation constant of 1.times.10.sup.-4 or greater and a reducing agent to generate chlorine dioxide gas.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.