Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
ae006a0b-aae2-4a2c-b10d-9276c4b7ec69
Materials
Associated ID
c5689d7d-f2ca-446c-92c3-f78b402c3669
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
Chlorine is commonly used for disinfection and sterilization, industrial production, chemical manufacturing, water treatment, and synthetic materials; the dataset includes major raw and auxiliary materials, energy, atmospheric emissions, and waste from the production process, but infrastructure such as equipment manufacturing and plant construction is not included within the system boundary of the dataset; the life cycle inventory is compiled from data from multiple sources, chlorine and hydrogen being co-products of the process, allocation is performed according to the allocation scheme specified in the PCR (Eurochlor, 2022), raw salt is allocated using the stoichiometric method under physical allocation, chlorine emissions are allocated only to the chlorine process, while electricity, steam, and all other inputs and outputs are Allocated to all co-products based on mass; the ion-exchange membrane process for caustic soda production includes salt dissolution, primary refining, secondary refining, electrolysis, and weak brine dechlorination steps.
Activity Description
The ion-exchange membrane process for caustic soda production includes salt dissolution, primary purification, secondary purification, electrolysis, and dilute brine dechlorination steps. Chlorine and hydrogen are co-produced in this process.
Process Description
Chlorine is a chemical element that exists as a diatomic molecule, Cl2. Under normal temperature and pressure, it is a highly toxic, suffocating gas with a distinct yellow-green color and a strong, pungent odor. Its density is greater than that of air. The melting point is -101.00°C, and the boiling point is -34°C. Chlorine is soluble in water and alkaline solutions, readily dissolves in organic solvents (such as carbon tetrachloride), but has low solubility in saturated brine. It is easily compressed and can be liquefied into a yellow-green, oily liquid known as liquid chlorine. Chlorine is widely used in disinfection and sterilization, industrial production, chemical manufacturing, water treatment, and synthesis of materials.
Time period
2014
2026
Geography
China
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
Raw salt is heated after dissolving and primary/secondary purification, then fed into an ion-exchange membrane electrolyzer. Inside the cell, sodium ions selectively pass through the ion membrane; chlorine (Cl₂) is generated at the anode, while water reacts at the cathode to produce hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and hydrogen gas (H₂). The OH⁻ combines with sodium ions migrating from the anode compartment to form sodium hydroxide.