Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for the small-scale manufacture of chlorine and sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite

US4308123A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1979
Grant dateDec 29, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC25B15/00
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Presented is an apparatus and method for producing small quantities of chlorine and sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite, useful in many applications where the major investment of a full-blown chemical plant capable of producing tons of product per day is not economically feasible. The apparatus of the invention includes the use of an electrolytic cell embodying an anode chamber charged with an acidic, concentrated sodium chloride solution and a cathode chamber charged with a basic aqueous solution and through which an electric current may be passed under controlled conditions to initiate and maintain a reaction that produces chlorine gas in the anode chamber and hydrogen gas and a solution of sodium hydroxide in the cathode chamber. The anode and cathode chambers are separated by a chemically-resistant ion-exchange membrane permeable only to positively charged ions. Anolyte and catholyte feed tanks are arranged in association with appropriate anolyte and catholyte surge tanks connected to the electrolytic cell in such a way that the reaction proceeds continuously without the need for mechanical pumps. The chlorine and the sodium hydroxide solution may leave the apparatus as sep…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.