Application to Electrolysis

Electrolysis is one method of synthesizing chemicals, on the basis of oxidation at the anode and reduction at the cathode. To prevent the mixing of anolyte with catholyte, a separator is used between the electrodes, and an ion exchange membrane is used when ion selectivity is required of the separator. Because electrolysis occurs only on the surface of the electrodes, many electrolyzers are necessary for large scale production. On the other hand, highly pure chemicals can be produced by electrolysis because catalysts and additives are never used in the syntheses. 

The largest electrolysis process using an ion exchange membrane is the chlor-alkali process to produce caustic soda, chlorine gas and hydrogen gas. The production capacity of caustic soda in the world was about 56.4 million ton/year in 2001 (demand was about 45.1 million ton/year in 2001).117 

Synthesis of inorganic and Electrolysis of sodium chloride and potassium chloride to organic reagents produce alkali metal hydroxides, chlorine and hydrogen gas, 

Waste water treatment Regeneration of chromate baths,113 treatment of waste acids 

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