Chlor-Alkali Industry: Driving Growth in Chemicals and Manufacturing
Chlor-alkali refers to a critical industrial process and the associated products obtained through the electrolysis of brine (sodium chloride solution) to produce chlorine, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), and hydrogen. This process forms the backbone of many chemical manufacturing industries, as the products of the chlor-alkali process serve as key raw materials for a wide array of applications in chemicals, water treatment, paper, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.
The chlor-alkali process typically involves passing an electric current through a concentrated brine solution. There are three main methods of electrolysis used: mercury cell, diaphragm cell, and membrane cell processes. In each method, sodium ions and chloride ions in the solution are separated by electricity, producing chlorine gas at the anode, hydrogen gas at the cathode, and a solution of sodium hydroxide in the electrolyte. Among these methods, the membrane cell process is considered the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, as it minimizes waste and…