Diafragmas de PEUAPM para aplicação no processo de produção eletrolítica de cloro-soda.

Abstract

To evaluate the alternatives diaphragm in relation to the asbestos in the chloro-alkali production from the electrolysis of brine, it was used an electrochemical cell in a laboratory scale by diaphragm process. The aim of this work is to study the substitution of asbestos diaphragm by UHMWPE. So, this work was divided in two steps. Firstly, it was done an investigation related to the chemical resistance of the UHMWPE in a fiber shape and in acid, base and salty solutions and 90oC of temperature. This condition was similar to the electrochemical cell operation in the chloro-alkali industry. It was used test of infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile strength and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the UHMWPE fibers. In the second step it was done the electrolysis with different compositions of diaphragm, changing from 100% of asbestos (used as reference) to 5:95, 90:10% of UHMWPE, until 100% of UHMWPE. To chemical characterization it was estimated the MacMullin number, as well the operational cell parameters, such as, current and energy efficiency, amounts of chlorates and chlorides. The aim of to study these parameters is the correlate the new diaphragm with the asbestos (used currently in the industry). The operational conditions used in this study were: continue feed of acid brine (pH from 3.5 to 4.0), concentration of 320 g/L, anodic current density of 2.63 KA/m2, and total time operation in the electrolytic cell of approximately 74 ho urs (current intensity of 13.1A) until reach 12% of NaOH concentration (similar to the industrial conditions). The results obtained in the first step showed that the UHMWPE fibers presented good resistance to the chemical attack of NaCl, HCl and brine solution at 90oC and in the period of 96 hours of exposition. It was observed only an start of oxidation, with presence of carbonyl groups, also it was observed an decrease in 15% in the crystallinity of the UHMWPE fibers. From the results of the second step it was observed that the asbestos/UHMWPE diaphragms studied presented good fiber packing and a tendency to decrease current and energy efficiencies with the increase of the UHMWPE content. So, it was concluded that with the conditions of preparation of asbestos/UHMWPE diaphragm done in this study the use of these in the choro-alkali production still limited due to the low surface energy and physical interaction presented by the UHMWPE fibers and it was necessary an previous surface treatment of the fibers.