Editing Electrolysis (section)

==Industrial uses==
=== Chloralkali process ===
The [[chloralkali process]] is a large scale application of electrolysis. This technology supplies most of the chlorine and [[sodium hydroxide]] required by many industries. The cathode is a [[Mixed metal oxide electrode|mixed metal oxide clad titanium anode]] (also called a dimensionally stable anode).<ref name=Ru>{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/cr200247n|title=Surface Chemistry of Ruthenium Dioxide in Heterogeneous Catalysis and Electrocatalysis: From Fundamental to Applied Research|year=2012|last1=Over|first1=Herbert|journal=Chemical Reviews|volume=112|issue=6|pages=3356–3426|pmid=22423981}}</ref><ref name="Land1972">{{cite journal |title=Anodic Chlorate Formation on Platinized Titanium |author=Landolt, D. |author2=Ibl, N. |journal=Journal of Applied Electrochemistry |volume=2 |issue=3 |year=1972 |pages=201–210 |publisher=Chapman and Hall Ltd. |doi=10.1007/BF02354977|s2cid=95515683 }}</ref>
[[Image:Chloralkali_membrane.svg|thumb|center|upright=3|Basic membrane cell used in the electrolysis of brine. At the anode ('''A'''), chloride (Cl<sup>−</sup>) is oxidized to chlorine. The ion-selective membrane ('''B''') allows the counterion Na+ to freely flow across, but prevents anions such as hydroxide (OH<sup>−</sup>) and chloride from diffusing across. At the cathode ('''C'''), water is reduced to hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The net process is the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of NaCl into industrially useful products sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and chlorine gas.]]

=== Electrofluorination ===
Many [[organofluorine compound]]s are produced by [[electrofluorination]].<ref>{{Ullmann|doi=10.1002/14356007.a11_349|chapter=Fluorine Compounds, Organic|year=2000|last1= Siegemund|first1=Günter|last2=Schwertfeger|first2= Werner|last3=Feiring|first3=Andrew|last4= Smart|first4=Bruce|last5=Behr|first5=Fred|last6=Vogel|first6=Herward|last7=McKusick|first7=Blaine|isbn=3527306730}}</ref>  One manifestation of this technology is the [[Electrochemical fluorination|Simons process]], which can be described as:
:R<sub>3</sub>C&ndash;H  +  HF   →  R<sub>3</sub>C&ndash;F  +  H<sub>2</sub>
In the course of a typical synthesis, this reaction occurs once for each C&ndash;H bond in the precursor.  The cell potential is maintained near 5&ndash;6 [[Volts|V]].  The [[anode]], the electrocatalyst, is [[nickel]]-plated.

===Hydrodimerization of acrylonitrile===
[[Acrylonitrile]] is converted to [[adiponitrile]] on an industrial scale via electrocatalysis.<ref name=Ind>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/9783527610044.hetcat0103|chapter=Industrial Electrocatalysis|title=Handbook of Heterogeneous Catalysis|year=2008|last1=Kotrel|first1=Stefan|last2=BrUninger|first2=Sigmar|isbn=978-3527312412}}</ref>

[[Image:hall-heroult-kk-2008-12-31.png|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Hall–Héroult process]] for producing [[aluminium]]]]

===Electroplating and electrowinning processes===

* [[Copper extraction techniques#Refining|Purifying copper]] from refined [[copper]].
* [[Electrometallurgy]] of [[aluminium]], [[lithium]], [[sodium]], [[potassium]], [[magnesium]], [[calcium]].

[[Electroplating]], where a thin film of metal is deposited over a substrate material. Electroplating is used in many industries for either functional or decorative purposes, as in-vehicle bodies and nickel coins.

===Electrochemical machining (ECM)===
In [[Electrochemical machining]], an electrolytic cathode is used as a shaped tool for removing material by anodic oxidation from a workpiece. ECM is often used as a technique for [[Burr (edge)|deburring]] or for etching metal surfaces like tools or knives with a permanent mark or logo.

===Other===
* Production of [[sodium chlorate]] and [[potassium chlorate]].
* Production of fuels such as [[hydrogen]] for [[spacecraft]], [[nuclear submarines]] and [[FCEV|vehicles]].
* [[Rust#Treatment|Rust removal]] and cleaning of old coins and other metallic objects.