Method for producing fluorine gas and device for producing fluorine gas

Abstract

A method for producing fluorine gas including electrolyzing an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell, measuring the current efficiency of fluorine gas production in the electrolyzing, and sending a fluid generated in the inside of the electrolytic cell in the electrolyzing the electrolyte, from the inside to the outside of the electrolytic cell through a flow path. In the sending, the flow path in which the fluid flows is switched in accordance with the current efficiency measured in the measuring the current efficiency, such that the fluid is sent to a first flow path that sends the fluid to a first outside when the current efficiency measured in the measuring the current efficiency is not less than a predetermined reference value, or the fluid is sent to a second flow path that sends the fluid to a second outside when the current efficiency is less than the predetermined reference value.

1 . A method for producing fluorine gas, the fluorine gas being produced by electrolyzing an electrolyte containing hydrogen fluoride and a metal fluoride, the method comprising:
 electrolyzing the electrolyte in an electrolytic cell;   measuring a current efficiency of fluorine gas production in the electrolyzing; and   sending a fluid generated in an inside of the electrolytic cell in the electrolyzing the electrolyte, from the inside to an outside of the electrolytic cell through a flow path, wherein   in the sending, the flow path in which the fluid flows is switched in accordance with the current efficiency measured in the measuring a current efficiency, such that the fluid is sent to a first flow path that sends the fluid from the inside of the electrolytic cell to a first outside when the current efficiency measured in the measuring a current efficiency is not less than a predetermined reference value, or the fluid is sent to a second flow path that sends the fluid from the inside of the electrolytic cell to a second outside when the current efficiency is less than the predetermined reference value, and   the predetermined reference value is a numerical value of 50% or more.   
     
     
         2 . The method for producing fluorine gas according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal fluoride is a fluoride of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of potassium, cesium, rubidium, and lithium. 
     
     
         3 . The method for producing fluorine gas according to  claim 1 , wherein an anode used in the electrolyzing is a carbonaceous electrode formed from at least one carbon material selected from the group consisting of diamond, diamond-like carbon, amorphous carbon, graphite, and glassy carbon. 
     
     
         4 . The method for producing fluorine gas according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic cell has a structure in which bubbles generated on the anode or a cathode used in the electrolyzing are capable of rising vertically in the electrolyte to reach a surface of the electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . A device for producing fluorine gas, the fluorine gas being produced by electrolysis of an electrolyte containing hydrogen fluoride and a metal fluoride, the device comprising:
 an electrolytic cell storing the electrolyte and configured to perform the electrolysis;   a current efficiency measurement unit configured to measure a current efficiency of fluorine gas production during the electrolysis; and   a flow path configured to send a fluid generated in an inside of the electrolytic cell during the electrolysis of the electrolyte, from the inside to an outside of the electrolytic cell, wherein   the flow path includes a first flow path configured to send the fluid from the inside of the electrolytic cell to a first outside and a second flow path configured to send the fluid from the inside of the electrolytic cell to a second outside and includes a flow path switching unit configured to switch the flow path in which the fluid flows, to the first flow path or the second flow path in accordance with the current efficiency measured by the current efficiency measurement unit,   the flow path switching unit is configured to send the fluid from the inside of the electrolytic cell to the first flow path when the current efficiency measured by the current efficiency measurement unit is not less than a predetermined reference value, or to send the fluid from the inside of the electrolytic cell to the second flow path when the current efficiency is less than the predetermined reference value, and   the predetermined reference value is a numerical value of 50% or more.   
     
     
         6 . The method for producing fluorine gas according to  claim 2 , wherein an anode used in the electrolyzing is a carbonaceous electrode formed from at least one carbon material selected from the group consisting of diamond, diamond-like carbon, amorphous carbon, graphite, and glassy carbon. 
     
     
         7 . The method for producing fluorine gas according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrolytic cell has a structure in which bubbles generated on the anode or a cathode used in the electrolyzing are capable of rising vertically in the electrolyte to reach a surface of the electrolyte. 
     
     
         8 . The method for producing fluorine gas according to  claim 3 , wherein the electrolytic cell has a structure in which bubbles generated on the anode or a cathode used in the electrolyzing are capable of rising vertically in the electrolyte to reach a surface of the electrolyte.