Stanley A Szymanski

US Patent:

41697731, Oct 2, 1979

Filed:

Jan 16, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/870054

Inventors:

Peter Lai - Grand Island NY
Stanley Szymanski - Youngstown NY
Norman L. Christensen - Cheektowaga NY

Assignee:

Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corp. - Niagara Falls NY

International Classification:

C25B 116
C25B 126
C25B 102

US Classification:

204 98

Abstract:

In the production of chlorine and caustic by the electrolytic decomposition of brine in a membrane cell, depleted anolyte is often recirculated, with salt resaturation. Chlorate build-up in this recirculating brine results from membrane inefficiencies, and has in the past required purging. It has now been found that a portion of the recirculating brine stream may be reacted with strong acid, such as HCl, to reduce the chlorate, resulting in production of additional chlorine, water, and salt. Such chlorine may be joined with the cell product, while the salt may be utilized in the resaturation of the remainder of the recirculating brine stream.