An electrolytic cell for producing sodium hydroxide, etc., which is partitioned by an ion-exchange membrane into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein at least one of a anode and a cathode is closely contacted to the ion-exchange membrane to form a gas diffusion electrode, and a current supplying means having guides for removing sodium hydroxide, etc., formed at the surface of the gas diffusion electrode is disposed therein closely contacting the gas diffusion electrode. By having a current supplying means having removing guides, sodium hydroxide formed at the surface of the gas diffusion electrode is separated therefrom and removed, whereby the supply of the raw material gas and removal of the produced gas can be smoothly performed without clogging perforations of the gas diffusion electrode with the sodium hydroxide.
A zero-gap type electrolytic cell 11 characterized as having a hydrophilic liquid-permeable material 16 interposed between an ion-exchange membrane 12 and a gas diffusion cathode 17. The reaction product passes through the liquid-permeable material and disperses toward edges of the liquid-permeable material before being withdrawn. Hence, the withdrawal direction for the target reaction product is not opposite the feed direction for the reactant gas.
The present invention relates to a retrofitted electrolytic cell and a method for retrofitting an electrolytic cell comprising an anode and a cathode compartment, a separator partitioning the compartments, said cathode compartment comprising a hydrogen evolving cathode. The method comprises making at least one substantially horizontal slit in the hydrogen evolving cathode resulting in plural cathode members, bending the edge of at least one cathode member at the slit away from the separator, arranging a gas diffusion electrode to the cathode members on the side facing the separator, and arranging an electrolyte layer to the gas diffusion electrode. The invention also relates to the use of a retrofitted electrolytic cell.
