EVALUATION OF ANODE DEACTIVATION IN CHLORALKALI CELLS

Different techniques to evaluate catalytic activity and to quantify re sidual service life (RSL) have been applied to DSA(R) anodes used in c hlor-alkali industrial cells. An accelerated service life test in sulf uric acid was used as a reference method. The results obtained through EIS, cyclic voltammetry and Ru content analysis of the catalytic laye r confirm the results obtained with the accelerated test. There is a d irect relation between the residual service life (RSL) thus obtained a nd the catalytic properties of the electrode. The different mechanisms of catalytic activity loss are discussed. An evaluation methodology i s proposed to reduce maintenance costs of industrial cells.