The Regeneration of Hydrogen Chloride in the Electrowinning of Metal Chlorides in Membrane Equipped Cells

A new approach to regenerating chloride in the form of HCl, to avoid the anodic production of chlorine during the electrowinning of metal chlorides, is investigated. The investigation utilizes a membrane cell toelectrowin copper and nickel chloride. The chloride is recovered in the form of HCl in the catholyte with a single membrane cell and in the membrane compartment solution (ampholyte) with a two membrane cell. The performance of Nafion-350 to chloride diffusion has been tested in various conditions with a single membrane celland a two membrane cell. The performance of Neosepta ACM exchange membrane was also tested.