Method of electrolysis of brine
First Claim
1. In a method of electrolyzing alkali metal chloride brine in a diaphragm cell having an anolyte chamber containing an anode and a catholyte chamber containing a steel cathode, which method comprises feeding the brine to the anolyte chamber, and imposing a voltage across the cell whereby to evolve chlorine at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode, the improvement comprising feeding an hydroxy carboxylic acid chosen from the group consisting of alpha hydroxy carboxylic acids and aromatic hydroxy carboxylic acids and water soluble salts thereof and a phosphorous containing organic compound chosen from the group consisting of organic phosphonates and water soluble salts thereof to the cell.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of electrolyzing alkali metal chloride brine in an electrolytic cell having an anolyte chamber containing an anode and a catholyte chamber containing a steel cathode, separated from the anolyte chamber by an asbestos diaphragm. Brine is fed to the anode chamber, a voltage is imposed across the cell, chlorine is evolved at the anode, and hydrogen is evolved at the cathode. According to the disclosed method, the hydrogen overvoltage is reduced by feeding an hydroxy carboxylic acid to the electrolytic cell. Additionally, a phosphorous containing compound and a surfactant may be added to the cell to further reduce the hydrogen overvoltage.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. In a method of electrolyzing alkali metal chloride brine in a diaphragm cell having an anolyte chamber containing an anode and a catholyte chamber containing a steel cathode, which method comprises feeding the brine to the anolyte chamber, and imposing a voltage across the cell whereby to evolve chlorine at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode, the improvement comprising feeding an hydroxy carboxylic acid chosen from the group consisting of alpha hydroxy carboxylic acids and aromatic hydroxy carboxylic acids and water soluble salts thereof and a phosphorous containing organic compound chosen from the group consisting of organic phosphonates and water soluble salts thereof to the cell.
Specification