Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating an oxygen-consuming electrode as cathode for the electrolysis of alkali metal chlorides or hydrochloric acid, in an electrochemical cell, comprising feeding an oxygen-containing process gas to the electrode, wherein the oxygen-containing process gas is at least partly heated using a heat source from the electrolysis before contact with the oxygen-consuming electrode to a temperature which corresponds to not more than the temperature of the cathode space in the cell or is less than 50° C. below the temperature of the cathode space in the cell.

Abstract: An electrolysis cell, suitable for the electrochemical production of chlorine from aqueous solutions of hydrogen chloride. The cell preferably comprises an anode space formed from an anode, an anode frame, and a back wall, the anode frame supporting the anode, and the anode space having an inlet and an outlet for the electrolyte, a cathode space formed from a current collector. The cell further preferably comprises a cathode frame and a back wall, the cathode frame supporting the current collector and the cathode space having an inlet and an outlet for the gas, a gas diffusion electrode arranged between anode and current collector and an cation exchange membrane arranged between anode and gas diffusion electrode, wherein the gas diffusion electrode is fixed on the current collector.