Chlorine is used as an oxidizing agent in several organic processes and gaseous hydrochloric acid (HCl) is often released as a by-product. It is not always possible to find an use for the acid and the discharge to waste treatment with additional caustic soda consumption is not a satisfactory solution.

The recovery of chlorine from hydrochloric acid has several advantages:

• No costs related to hydrochloric acid disposal.
• Business is made independent from Cl2 and HCl prices.
• Reduced investment versus the installation of a traditional chlor-alkali plant of the same capacity
• Interesting for regions with high Cl2 demand or excess caustic soda.

Uhde HCl electrolyzers are based on the application of Membrane Cell technology or of Oxygen Depolarized Cathode (ODC) technology, also known as Gas Diffusion Electrode, to the electrolysis process.