Process for the production of alkaline earth hydroxide

A process for the continuous production of alkaline earth metal hydroxide comprising:

• a. continuously providing an aqueous alkaline earth metal halide solution to the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell in which an anode and a cathode are maintained in separate anode and cathode compartments, respectively, by a hydrated, cation selective, hydraulically impermeable, ionically conductive membrane interposed between said anode and said cathode;
• b. electrolyzing the alkaline earth metal halide solution;
• c. continuously removing alkaline earth metal hydroxide solution and hydrogen from the cathode compartment and halogen from the anode compartment;
• said membrane comprising first and second layers of a fluorinated polymer with pendant side chains containing sulfonyl groups present as predominant ion exchange sites and attached to carbon atoms which have at least one fluorine atom attached thereto;
• said first layer of the polymer having an equivalent weight greater than said second layer;
• and
• said membrane being positioned so that said first layer of the polymer faces said cathode compartment.

A process for the continuous production of barium hydroxide comprising:

• a. continuously providing an aqueous barium halide solution to the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell in which an anode and a cathode are maintained in separate anode and cathode compartments, respectively, by a hydrated, cation selective, hydraulically impermeable, ionically conductive membrane interposed between said anode and said cathode;
• b. electrolyzing the barium halide solution;
• c. continuously removing barium hydroxide solution and hydrogen from the cathode compartment and halogen from the anode compartment;
• said membrane comprising a cation exchange membrane wherein sulfonyl groups serve as the predominant ion exchange site.

A process for the continuous production of an alkaline earth metal hydroxide comprising:

• providing an electrolytic cell having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a cation exchange membrane interposed therebetween, said cation exchange membrane having pendent sulfonyl side chains and being substantially free of side chains that are reactive with the alkaline earth metal to form water insoluble complexes;
• providing a stream of alkaline earth metal halide solution to the anode compartment of the electrolytic cell;
• electrolyzing the alkaline earth metal halide solution under conditions wherein said membrane is not adversely affected by deposition of water insoluble complexes;
• continuously removing a stream of alkaline earth metal hydroxide solution and hydrogen from the cathode compartment and halogen from the anode compartment.