20110135562 | TWO STAGE PROCESS FOR ELECTROCHEMICALLY GENERATING HYPOCHLOROUS ACID THROUGH CLOSED LOOP, CONTINUOUS BATCH PROCESSING OF BRINE - High concentrations of hypochlorous acid can be produced from, most typically, brine using an system of simple design with minimum residual salt production, reduced power consumption, and at high operating efficiencies. This is accomplished by separating the system into two operations, each of which is preferably optimized. This process employs at least two electrochemical cells, the first of which has no separator between the anode and cathode and generates a high-strength hypochlorite solution. The hypochlorite is then diluted to a desired chlorine concentration and/or pH and fed into the anode compartment of a second electrochemical cell wherein the electrodes are separated by a barrier, such as, for example, a membrane or diaphragm. The separated cell produces a solution containing predominantly hypochlorous acid. Separation of the neutralization processes allows storage of hypochlorite which has a much greater stability in regards to temperature which can then be subsequently converted into hypochlorous acid at point of use or as needed or desired. | 06-09-2011 |