Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft

Nikolaj Medic

August Winsel

Dieter Bergner

Jurgen Russow

Rudolf Staab

Theodor Auel

A process is described for electrolyzing aqueous alkali metal chloride solutions in a membrane cell which contains an anode chamber with the anode and a cathode chamber with the cathode, the two chambers being separated from one another by a cation exchanger membrane. The cathode is porous and foil-like. The cathode and cation exchanger membrane form the actual cathode chamber filled with catholyte and the cathode and cell wall form a gas space. Water is fed into the cathode chamber and alkali metal hydroxide solution is withdrawn from it, hydrogen is withdrawn from the cathode chamber and gas space, and aqueous alkali metal chloride solution is fed into the anode chamber and gaseous chlorine, together with depleted alkali metal chloride solution, is withdrawn from it. A direct voltage which is at least the same as the decomposition voltage is applied to the cathode and anode. A higher pressure is established in the cathode chamber than in the gas space.

Process for the electrolysis of alkali metal chloride solutions

For the electrolysis of an aqueous alkali metal chloride solution in a membrane cell with a perfluorinated cation exchange membrane it is important that there is only a minimum amount of cations of polyvalent metals, such as calcium. Otherwise, deposits within the membrane will occur, among other effects. It has been found that the disturbances caused by the above-mentioned cations can be considerably reduced, if an aliphatic polybasic phosphonic acid or the alkali metal salt thereof is added to the alkali metal chloride solution.

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Kelkheim, Germany

Nikolaj Medic