Electrochemical cell and process for splitting a sulfate solution and producing a hyroxide solution sulfuric acid and a halogen gas

A process for producing a sodium hydroxide solution, sulfuric acid and chlorine from essentially anhydrous hydrogen chloride and a sodium sulfate solution, wherein:

• (a) a sodium sulfate solution is fed to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell, wherein the sodium sulfate solution comprises sulfate ions and sodium ions;
• (b) molecules of essentially anhydrous hydrogen chloride are fed to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell and are transported to an anode of the cell;
• (c) the molecules of anhydrous hydrogen chloride are oxidized at the anode to produce halogen gas and protons, and the protons are transported through a first cation-transporting membrane;
• (d) the first membrane rejects the sulfate ions and the sulfate ions join the protons to form a sulfuric acid solution;
• (e) water is fed to a third compartment of the electrochemical cell and is reduced to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions;
• and
• (f) a second membrane rejects the hydroxyl ions and the hydroxyl ions are joined with the sodium ions to form a solution of hydroxide.

An electrochemical cell for producing a hydroxide solution, sulfuric acid and a halogen gas from a hydrogen halide and a sulfate solution, comprising:

• (a) means for introducing a sulfate solution to a first compartment of the cell, wherein the sulfate solution comprises sulfate ions and cations;
• (b) means for introducing hydrogen halide to a second compartment;
• (c) means for oxidizing the hydrogen halide to produce halogen gas and protons;
• (d) first cation-transporting means for transporting the protons therethrough, wherein the first cation-transporting means is disposed in contact with the oxidizing means, the first cation-transporting means rejects the sulfate ions, and the sulfate ions join the protons to form a sulfuric acid solution;
• (e) means for introducing water to a third compartment;
• (f) means for reducing the water to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions;
• and
• (g) second cation-transporting means for rejecting the hydroxyl ions and for transporting the cations therethrough, wherein the second cation-transporting means is disposed in contact with the reducing means and the hydroxyl ions are joined with the cations to form a solution of hydroxide.