Electrochemical Production of Hypochlorous Acid and Sodium Hydroxide Using Ion Exchange Membranes

Juan Taumaturgo Medina Collana (), Kevin Azorza Guillen, Edgar Williams Villanueva Martinez, Carlos Ancieta Dextre, Luis Carrasco Venegas, Oscar Rodriguez Taranco, Jorge Lopez Herrera, Pablo Diaz Bravo, Jose Porlles Loarte and Jorge Montaño Pisfil
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Juan Taumaturgo Medina Collana: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Kevin Azorza Guillen: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Edgar Williams Villanueva Martinez: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Carlos Ancieta Dextre: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Luis Carrasco Venegas: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Oscar Rodriguez Taranco: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Jorge Lopez Herrera: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Pablo Diaz Bravo: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Jose Porlles Loarte: Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Research Center for Water Treatment Processes Engineering, National University of Callao, Juan Pablo II 306 Avenue, Bellavista 07011, Peru
Jorge Montaño Pisfil: Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad Nacional del Callao, Callao 07011, Peru

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Given the problems related to drinking water supplies in rural and economically disadvantaged regions, point-of-use disinfection technologies are a viable alternative to improve access to drinking. Electrochlorinators are devices that produce chlorine-based disinfectants onsite via the electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution. In this research, we have constructed an innovative laboratory-scale three-compartment cell that includes two ion exchange membranes, fixed between two electrodes; in the anodic compartment, an acidic mixture of chlorine-based species (Cl 2 , HClO, HCl and ClO − ) is obtained, and, in the cathodic compartment, an alkaline solution is present (NaOH and hydrogen gas), while the central compartment is fed with a sodium chloride solution. The Taguchi methodology was used to examine the impact of the process operating conditions on the results obtained. The effects of the electrical potential levels (4.5, 6 and 7 V), electrolysis times (30, 60 and 90 min) and initial sodium chloride concentrations (5, 15 and 30 g/L) on the physical and chemical characteristics (concentrations of available chlorine and sodium hydroxide and pH of the solutions) and energy consumption were investigated. Variations in the electrical potential significantly influenced the concentration levels of active chlorine and sodium hydroxide produced, as well as the pH values of the respective solutions. The most favorable conditions for the production of electrolyzed water were an electrical potential of 7 volts, an electrolysis time of 90 min and a concentration of 30 g/L of sodium chloride, which was verified by ANOVA. The maximum concentration of active chlorine reached 290 mg/L and that of sodium hydroxide reached 1450 mg/L without the presence of hypochlorite ions under the best synthesis conditions. The energy consumption was 18.6 kWh/kg Cl 2 and 4.4 kWh/kg NaOH, while the average electric current efficiency for sodium hydroxide formation reached 88.9%. Similarly, the maximum conversion of chloride ions reached 24.37% under the best operating conditions.

Keywords: electrolyzed water; hypochlorous acid; ion exchange membranes; operating conditions; sodium hydroxide; green electrochemistry; clean production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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