New Technology For The Formation of Sodium Hydroxide

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目是在无机合成子领域的电化学一般领域。烧碱在美国的生产规模约为36500吨/天，市场价值约为2500万美元/天，几乎完全通过电解盐水生产。氯是同时生产的，由于没有经济的途径来销毁或倾倒氯，它的市场正在下降。因此，有真正的机会替代生产工艺不涉及氯。第一阶段的研究项目成功地展示了这种基于电解替代钠盐的过程。第二阶段的研究工作将确定最先进的电池组件和电池设计，并对其进行相应的修改，以达到最低的电池电压、高的腐蚀性电流效率和高的腐蚀性浓度，最高可达重量的50%。将仔细研究影响膜和电极稳定性和性能的因素，并在延长的电解条件下评估该过程。将遵循统计设计方法。这些研究的结果将构成整个过程的初步工程设计的基础，并对资本和业务成本进行经济评估。这项研究有可能开发出一种无氯副产物的烧碱新方法。这是对环境无害的合成的一个极好的例子，可以产生重大的社会影响。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 2 project is in the general area of electrochemistry in the subfield of inorganic synthesis. Caustic soda is manufactured in the USA to the extent of about 36,500 tons/day at a market value of about $25 million/day, almost exclusively by the electrolysis of brine. Chlorine is produced simultaneously and has suffered a declining market with no economical routes for its destruction or dumping. Hence, there are real opportunities for alternative manufacturing processes not involving chlorine. The Phase I research project successfully demonstrated such a process based on the electrolysis of an alternative sodium salt. The Phase II research effort will identify state-of-the-art cell components and cell design and modify these accordingly to achieve minimum cell voltage, high caustic current efficiency, and high caustic concentration, of up to 50% by weight. Factors contributing to the stability and performance of the membranes and electrodes will be studied carefully, and the process will be evaluated under extended electrolysis conditions. Statistical design methodology will be followed. The results of these studies will form the basis of a preliminary engineering design for the overall process and an economic assessment of capital and operating costs. %%% This research has the potential for the development of a new way of making caustic soda without chlorine byproduct. This is an excellent example of an environmentally benign synthesis which could have a significant societal impact.