A molten salt electrolytic process for recovering chlorine and ammonia from ammonium chloride. I

Abstract

Various electrolytic methods were examined for recovering chlorine, hydrogen and ammonia from by-product ammonium chloride produced in the ammonium chloride-soda process. Two methods, one based on an aqueous electrolysis and the use of an ion exchange membrane, and the other employing a molten metal cathode were considered possible. This series of papers aims at a detailed description of the latter process, which seems more interesting from the viewpoint of industrial exploitation. This paper briefly reviews the other electrolytic processes before describing the principle of the molten salt process and the study of the reaction between ammonium chloride and liquid metals.