PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC MEMBRANE CELL AND POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE OBTAINED THEREBY

摘要

Improved current efficiency is obtained in an electrolytic membrane cell for the production of potassium hydroxide by employing in combination: (a) a membrane comprised of a carboxylic acid substituted polymer prepared by reacting a fluorinated olefin with a comonomer having a functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid and a functional group which can be converted to carboxylic acid; (b) a potassium chloride brine feed through the anolyte chamber of the cell having a concentration in the range from about 250 to about 300 grams of potassium chloride per liter; (c) a cell operating temperature in the range from about 90 DEG to about 100 DEG C.; (d) producing a depleted brine in the anolyte chamber after electrolysis in which the potassium chloride consumed by electrolysis ranges from about 5 to about 15 percent by weight of the potassium chloride originally present in the brine feed, and (e) maintaining a catholyte potassium hydroxide concentration in the range from about 500 to about 600 grams potassium hydroxide per liter.