Process for the preparation of chlorine dioxide

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF CHLORINE DIOXIDE FROM AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF AN ACID AND A CHLORATE SALT IN THE PRESENCE OF A REDUCING AGENT AND AN INERT GAS, THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE CONTINUOUSLY INTRODCUING FRESH REACTION SOLUTION CONTAINING A CHLORIDE SALT AND A REDUCING AGENT TOGETHER WITH AN INERT GAS AT THE TOP OF A REACTION SPACE, REMOVING SPENT SOLUTION FROM SAID REACTION SPACE, REMOVING CHLORINE DIOXIDE FROM SAID REACTION SPACE, REMOVING A PORTION OF THE WATER AND OF THE NEUTRAL SALTS CONTAINED IN THE SPENT REACTION SOLUTION, INTRODUCING FRESH ACID IN THE SPENT REACTION SOLUTION TINUOUSLY RECYCLING THE SPENT REACTION SOLUTION TO THE REACTION SPACE AT THE POINT WHERE THE FRESH REACTION SOLUTION IS INTRODUCED INTO THE REACTION SPACE, THE QUANTITY OF SPENT REACTION SOLUTION RECYCLED TO THE REACTION SPACE BEING 30 TO 50 TIMES THE QUANTITY OF THE FRESH REACTION SOLUTION BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE REACTION SPACE AND MAINTAINING A REACTION TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 80* C. AND 95* C. WITHIN THE REACTION SPACE.