The electrochemical behaviour of RuO2-based anodes has been investigated in 0.5 M Na2SO4 and 6-300 g/l NaCl solutions with galvanostatic polarization curves. Chlorine gas is the primary reaction product when electrolyzing chloride solutions but the corrosion of the anodes depends on the amount of oxygen evolution. The solution conditions, where oxygen evolution is significant were estimated from polarization curves. The decrease of solution pH had a stronger effect on the suppressing of oxygen evolution than the increase of NaCl concentration. Oxygen evolution was significant at pH>2 in sodium chloride solutions 0- 300 g/l NaCl. At pH=2 no significant oxygen evolution was found in 35-300 g/l NaCl solutions. Below pH=5 chlorine evolution is the main reaction. Otherwise the current density has to be high enough to increase the anode potential to a level, where chlorine evolution may begin. In 6-35 g/l NaCl solutions with pH=5-6 at potentials E<= 1050 mV the only reaction was oxygen evolution. At potentials E>=1150 mV chlorine evolution \vas again the main reaction. When reactions proceed simultaneously, chlorine evolution will dominate if chloride ion concentration is high enough.
Keywords: oxide anodes, RuO2 dissolution, oxygen evolution, solution acidity, NaCl concentration