Patent ID: 6368473
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: C25B

Abstract:
A sodium chloride electrolytic cell comprising an anode chamber having an anode into which an aqueous solution of sodium chloride is supplied and a cathode chamber having a cathode comprising a gas diffusion electrode for producing an alkaline aqueous solution, said anode chamber and said cathode chamber being divided by an ion exchange membrane, wherein an electrolytic solution passage is provided between said ion exchange membrane and a reactive layer of said gas diffusion electrode, and wherein a feed opening for said electrolytic solution passage is provided and a feed opening for oxygen gas is provided on an upper portion of a gas chamber of said gas diffusion electrode, through which an electrolytic solution and oxygen gas are separately supplied, so as not to cause pressure differential between said passage and said gas chamber, and then allowed to run downward as descending flow to effect electrolysis, andwherein a hydrophilic structure having open cells and a high porosity is interposed between said ion exchange membrane and said reactive layer of said gas diffusion electrode, and the electrolytic solution is supplied into said electrolytic solution passage having said hydrophilic structure.