Résumé
This study examines the possibility to optimally produce active chlorine from a synthetic concentrate of seawater by electrolysis using an experimental design methodology. Different operating parameters were investigated such as current density, reaction time, hydrochloric acid concentration and chloride ion concentration. Using a 24 factorial matrix, the best performance for active chlorine production (46mg/l of HClO) was obtained at a current intensity of 1.6A during 35min of treatment time in the presence of 0.11M of H3O+ and 0.8M of NaCl. The current intensity and treatment time were the main parameters influencing the active chlorine production. Subsequently, a central composite design methodology has been investigated to determine the optimal experimental parameters for chlorine production. The electrolytic cell applied under optimal conditions (at a current intensity of 1.6A during 27min in the presence of 0.11M of NaCl and 0.8M of H3O+) is able to produce 31mg/l of chlorine for an energy consumption of 0.54kWh/m3.
► RSM is a helpful method to study chlorine production by saline water electrolysis. ► Time and current intensity were the main parameters influencing chlorine production. ► The effect of these two main factors is around 82.8% on the investigated response. ► Active chlorine (31mg/l) could be optimally produced for 0.54kWh/m3