Patent ID: 8784620

Claim:
A method for improving the operation of an electrolytic cell comprising an anolyte compartment, a catholyte compartment and a synthetic diaphragm separating the anolyte and catholyte compartments wherein liquid anolyte is introduced into the anolyte compartment and flows through the diaphragm into the catholyte compartment, which method consists of introducing into the anolyte compartment particulate material consisting of halocarbon polymer short fiber and halocarbon polymer microfibril, and optionally at least one member chosen from halocarbon polymer fiber having a mean length longer than the mean length of the halocarbon polymer short fiber, clay mineral, hydroxides of alkaline earth metals, and zirconium hydroxide in amounts sufficient to lower the flow of liquid anolyte through the synthetic diaphragm into the catholyte compartment, by said particulate material being deposited on an anolyte side surface of said synthetic diaphragm, wherein the weight ratio of halocarbon polymer short fiber to halocarbon polymer microfibril is from 0.4:1 to 1.5:1.