Electrolytic cell and electrolytic cells in series, which can be used as chloralkali electrolytic cell and process co2

Abstract

An electrolytic cell includes a cation exchange membrane, a cathode compartment, and an anode compartment. The cathode compartment includes a gas diffusion electrode and a flow channel element, in which the flow channel element is between the cation exchange membrane and the gas diffusion electrode, and has a plurality of flow channels arranged in parallel with each other. The anode compartment includes an anode mesh, in which the cation exchange membrane is between the anode mesh and the flow channel element. A distance between the anode mesh and the gas diffusion electrode is substantially equal to the sum of a first thickness of the cation exchange membrane and a second thickness of the flow channel element. The novel electrolytic cell can combine with a chloralkali electrolytic cell to deal with gaseous CO2 and produce products, e.g., synthesis gas, for other purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrolytic cell, comprising:
 a cation exchange membrane;   a cathode compartment, comprising a gas diffusion electrode and a flow channel element, wherein the flow channel element is between the cation exchange membrane and the gas diffusion electrode, and the flow channel element has a plurality of flow channels arranged in parallel with each other; and   an anode compartment, comprising an anode mesh, wherein the cation exchange membrane is between the anode mesh and the flow channel element, and a distance between the anode mesh and the gas diffusion electrode is substantially equal to the sum of a first thickness of the cation exchange membrane and a second thickness of the flow channel element.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the first thickness of the cation exchange membrane is from 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, and the second thickness of the flow channel element is from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the gas diffusion electrode comprises a catalyst layer, a hydrophilic layer, and a hydrophobic layer, the hydrophilic layer is between the catalyst layer and the hydrophobic layer, and the catalyst layer is in direct contact with the flow channel element. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 3 , wherein the catalyst layer comprises cobalt, silver, iron, a combination of iron and ruthenium dioxide, zinc, copper, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 3 , wherein the hydrophilic layer is a carbon black layer, and the hydrophobic layer is a carbon fiber layer. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode compartment further comprises an elastic mesh, the elastic mesh is formed and braided by a plurality of nickel wires, a wire diameter of the plurality of nickel wires is from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, a thickness of the elastic mesh is from 1 mm to 10 mm, and the elastic mesh is in direct contact with the gas diffusion electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode compartment further comprises a gas inlet and a liquid inlet, and the anode compartment further comprises a liquid inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the anode compartment further comprises an inclined plate, and an angle between the inclined plate and the anode mesh is from 3 degrees to 10 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 8 , wherein the anode compartment further comprises a gas-liquid separation chamber, and the gas-liquid separation chamber has an opening above the inclined plate. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 9 , wherein the gas-liquid separation chamber comprises a debubbling mesh. 
     
     
         11 . An electrolytic cell in series, comprising at least two electrolytic cells of  claim 1  formed in series. 
     
     
         12 . An electrolytic cell, comprising:
 a cation exchange membrane;   a cathode compartment, comprising a flow channel element and a gas diffusion electrode, wherein the flow channel element is between the cation exchange membrane and the gas diffusion electrode, the flow channel element has a plurality of flow channels arranged in parallel with each other, the gas diffusion electrode comprises a catalyst layer, a hydrophilic layer, and a hydrophobic layer, the hydrophilic layer is between the catalyst layer and the hydrophobic layer, and the catalyst layer is in direct contact with the flow channel element; and   an anode compartment, wherein the cation exchange membrane is between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment.   
     
     
         13 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 12 , wherein the catalyst layer comprises cobalt, silver, iron, a combination of iron and ruthenium dioxide, zinc, copper, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrophilic layer is a carbon black layer, and the hydrophobic layer is a carbon fiber layer. 
     
     
         15 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 12 , wherein the cathode compartment further comprises an elastic mesh, the elastic mesh is formed and braided by a plurality of nickel wires, a wire diameter of the plurality of nickel wires is from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, a thickness of the elastic mesh is from 1 mm to 10 mm, and the elastic mesh is in direct contact with the gas diffusion electrode.