SBIR Phase II: Electrochemical Chlorine Purification

这个小型企业创新研究二期项目将进一步发展电化学氯净化工艺，并在氯碱工厂进行0.5平方米的电池试验。在第一阶段，该工艺的密度高达0.5 A/cm2（室温下），在最高电流密度下电位小于300 mV。在一个电极面积为100 cm2的中试规模的MP-cell中，成功地证明了使用阴离子交换膜在电极流动模式下净化氯。出口氯纯度为100%。对氯气和氯离子进行了完全的质量平衡。二期项目的目标包括(a)研究和了解浓盐酸中氯还原的机理，(b)研究浓盐酸中氯氧化和氯还原的催化过程，(c)建造一个0.5平方米的中试池，(d)在氯碱工厂进行现场试验。在第二阶段结束时，将完成详细的经济分析，以使商业化努力成为可能。预计到2002年，世界氯碱工业的生产能力将从目前的4210万吨增长到4900万吨。到2007年为止，为了开发替代第三阶段液化的技术，将处理的尾气总额将达到5.62亿美元。第二阶段液化的市场规模约为17亿美元。截至2007年，美国低成本、节能技术（如电化学净化）的市场规模约为1.6亿美元。

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase II project will further the development of the electrochemical chlorine purification process and conduct a pilot trial with a 0.5 square meter cell at a chlor-alkali plant. During the Phase I phase, densities as high as 0.5 A/cm2 (at room temperature) were demonstrated for this process, with a potential of less than 300 mV at the highest current density. A pilot scale MP-cell with 100 cm2-electrode area was successfully demonstrated to purify chlorine in the flow through electrode mode using anion exchange membranes. Chlorine purity at the outlet was 100%. A complete mass balance was carried out for the chlorine gas and the chloride ion. The objectives of the Phase II program include (a) study and understanding of the mechanism of chlorine reduction in concentrated hydrochloric acid, (b) investigation of catalysis of both the chloride oxidation and chlorine reduction processes in concentrated HCl, (c) building a 0.5 square meter pilot cell, and (d) conducting field trials in a chlor-alkali plant with the pilot cell. At the end of Phase II, a detailed economic analysis would have been completed to enable commercialization efforts. The world chlor-alkali industry is projected to grow from the current production capacity of 42.1 million tons to 49 million metric tons in the year 2002. The total amount of tail gas to be processed is 562 million dollars through the year 2007 for a technology that replaces third stage liquefaction. The market for the second stage liquefaction is approximately 1.7 billion dollars. The U. S. market size for a low cost, energy efficient technology such as electrochemical purification is approximately 160 million dollars through 2007.