Electrochemical cell for the electrolysis of an alkali metal halide and the production of a halogenated hydrocarbon

Claim 1

A process for the production of a dihalogenated olefin and an alkali metal hydroxide wherein the free energy of the electrolysis reaction of an alkali metal halide is reduced, so as to reduce energy consumption in the production of an alkali metal hydroxide, by depolarizing a gas diffusion anode with a gaseous olefin; said process comprising providing an electrochemical cell having a porous anode comprising a gas and electrolyte diffusion layer and a cathode, separated by a permselective membrane or an electrolyte permeable diaphragm, and said anode and cathode are contained respectively in an anolyte compartment and a catholyte compartment of said electrochemical cell; said process comprising; (A) flowing a gaseous olefin to said anolyte compartment; (B) flowing an aqueous alkali metal halide electrolyte to said catholyte compartment; (C) forming at least one dihalogenated olefin by reacting said gaseous olefin with a halogen; and (D) separating said dihalogenated olefin.