Abstract: An electrolytic cell suitable for use in electrolyzing ionizable chemical compounds, particularly alkali metal halide brines and hydrohalic acids, which comprises a cell body having an anode compartment containing a porous anode and a cathode compartment containing a cathode said compartments being separated from each other by a prestretched, taut membrane barrier which is substantially impervious to gases and liquids and which is selected from a hydrolyzed copolymer of a perfluorinated hydrocarbon and a sulfonated perfluorinated hydrocarbon and a sulfonated perfluorovinyl ether, and a sulfostyrenated perfluorinated ethylene propylene polymer, said barrier being pretreated by hydrolyzing and stretching prior to insertion in the cell.Such cells can be operated at constant low voltage, and are not subject to erratic operating voltages which are due, in part at least, to the accumulation of gases between the anode and diaphragm.

Abstract: An improved anode structure for a chlor-alkali type diaphragm cell wherein the anode is a porous, valve metal, e.g., titanium, anode having on one side a coating of a noble metal or noble metal oxide and on the uncoated side a membrane composed essentially of a cation-active permselective material which is substantially impervious to liquids and gases. The membrane covered surface is disposed spaced from but facing the cathode member.Anodes of this improved structure give minimum cell voltage and a surprisingly reduced consumption rate of the noble metal or oxide coating.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of operating a three compartment electrolytic cell which comprises an anode compartment, a buffer compartment and a cathode compartment. More specifically, it concerns an improved method of operating a three compartment cell used in the electrolytic production of chlorine and caustic wherein the solution produced in the buffer compartment is either chemically or physically treated to optimize the overall operation of the three compartment electrolytic cell.