Electrolytic production of chloric acid and sodium chlorate mixtures for the generation of chlorine dioxide

摘要

An aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate is produced in an electrolytic cell having an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and at least one ion exchange compartment between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment, in a process which comprises: a) feeding an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorate to the ion exchange compartment, b) passing hydrogen and alkali metal ions from the anode compartment through a cation exchange membrane into the ion exchange compartment, wherein the hydrogen ions displace alkali metal ions to produce an aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate, c) passing alkali metal ions from the ion exchange compartment into the cathode compartment, d) electrolyzing the aqueous solution of chloric acid and alkali metal chlorate in the anode compartment to produce an aqueous solution of chloric acid, alkali metal chlorate, hydrogen ions and perchlorate ions as a minor constituent. The aqueous solution of chloric acid, alkali metal chlorate and perchlorate ions is reacted with a reducing agent in a chlorine dioxide generator to produce chlorine dioxide.