Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.32, No.5, 537-541, 2002
Studies on the synthesis of sodium ates (NaH2PO4, Na2HPO4, Na3PO4) using membrane electrolysis
Comparative studies have been carried out on the electrosynthesis of sodium phosphates in the cathode compartment of an industrial membrane cell supplied with phosphoric acid of concentrations ranging from 1 to 2 mol dm(-)3. The anode compartment of the cell was supplied with brine containing 25% NaCl. Du Pont Nafion(R) membranes of types N-423, N-901 and N-961 were used. It was found that current efficiencies for the production of sodium phosphates exceeded 96%, this being higher than that for sodium hydroxide and, in spite of the different properties of the membranes, these efficiencies were similar. With N-423 membrane, the current efficiency was 2 similar to 3% lower than that for other membranes, but at the same time, the voltage of the cell was lower by 8 similar to 12%. Thus, N-423 membrane gives better performance during sodium phosphate synthesis as compared to membranes N-901 and N-961.