Electrochemical cell and process for splitting a sulfate solution and producing a hydroxide solution, sulfiric acid and a halogen gas

A process for producing hydroxide solution, sulfuric acid and a halogen gas from a hydrogen halide and a sulfate solution, wherein: (a) a sulfate solution is fed to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell, wherein the sulfate solution comprises sulfate ions and cations; (b) hydrogen halide is fed to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell and is transported to an anode of the cell; (c) the hydrogen halide is oxidized at the anode to produce halogen gas and protons, and the protons are transported through a first cation-transporting membrane; (d) the first membrane rejects the sulfate ions and the sulfate ions join the protons to form a sulfuric acid solution; (e) water is fed to a third compartment of the cell and is reduced at a cathode of the cell to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions; and (f) a second membrane rejects the hydroxyl ions and the hydroxyl ions are joined with the cations to form a solution of hydroxide.

An electrochemical cell for producing a hydroxide solution, sulfuric acid and a halogen gas from a hydrogen halide and a sulfate solution, comprising: (a) means for introducing a sulfate solution to a first compartment of the cell, wherein the sulfate solution comprises sulfate ions and cations; (b) means for introducing hydrogen halide to a second compartment; (c) means for oxidizing the hydrogen halide to produce halogen gas and protons; (d) first cation-transporting means for transporting the protons therethrough, wherein the first cation-transporting means is disposed in contact with the oxidizing means, the first cation-transporting means rejects the sulfate ions, and the sulfate ions join the protons to form a sulfuric acid solution; (e) means for introducing water to a third compartment; (f) means for reducing the water to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions; and (g) second cation-transporting means for rejecting the hydroxyl ions and for transporting the cations therethrough, wherein the second cation-transporting means is disposed in contact with the reducing means and the hydroxyl ions are joined with cations to form a solution of hydroxide.

A process for producing a sodium hydroxide solution, sulfuric acid and chlorine gas from essentially anhydrous hydrogen chloride and a sodium sulfate solution, wherein: (a) a sodium sulfate solution is fed to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell, wherein the sodium sulfate solution comprises sulfate ions and sodium ions; (b) molecules of essentially anhydrous hydrogen chloride are fed to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell and are transported to an anode of the cell; (c) the molecules of anhydrous hydrogen chloride are oxidized at the anode to produce halogen gas and protons, and the protons are transported through a first cation-transporting membrane; (d) the first membrane rejects the sulfate ions and the sulfate ions join the protons to form a sulfuric acid solution; (e) water is fed to a third compartment of the cell and is reduced at a cathode of the cell to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions; and (f) a second membrane rejects the hydroxyl ions and the hydroxyl ions are joined with the sodium ions to form a solution of hydroxide.