Membrane assembly for electrolytic cells

摘要

In an electrolytic cell of the membrane type wherein the anolyte and catholyte are separated by a hydraulically impermeable membrane, the improvement comprising limiting the hydraulically impermeable membrane portion of the divider between anolyte and catholyte chambers to that area which is between the active areas of the anode and cathode while all other areas between catholyte and anolyte chambers are nonpermeable so as to minimize back-migration of undesirable ions which decrease overall current efficiency. Specifically, in a chlor-alkali cell an electrode would be enclosed in a fluorinated ethylene propylene enclosure having window-like openings therein made from Nafion type hydraulically impermeable cation exchange membrane, said window-like openings exposing only active electrode areas.