What is the Difference Between Anolyte and Catholyte?

Anolyte and catholyte are electrolytic solutions that play significant roles in various industries, such as healthcare, food processing, and water treatment. The key difference between them lies in their ionic composition and pH levels:

• Anolyte: An electrolytic solution mainly containing anionic species, anolyte has a pH range of 2-9. It is an oxidizing solution containing positively charged ions and is primarily used in disinfection and sanitation processes due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. Anolytes have been used in petroleum oil rigs for more cost-effective crude oil recovery.
• Catholyte: An electrolytic solution mainly containing cationic species, catholyte has a pH range of 12-13. It is on the cathode side of an electrochemical cell and has various uses, such as reducing surface tension of water for improved oil production in wells, reducing microbe contamination, and serving as detergents or cleaning agents in the food and beverage industry. Catholytes have a short shelf life (about 2 days) and are sometimes produced on-site according to the requirement.

It is important not to treat anolyte and catholyte as interchangeable terms, as they serve different purposes in electrochemical systems and have distinct physicochemical properties.

Comparative Table: Anolyte vs Catholyte

Anolyte and catholyte are both electrolytic solutions containing anionic species, but they have different properties and applications. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between them:

Anolyte is an oxidizing agent due to a mixture of free radicals and has an antimicrobial effect, making it suitable for disinfection purposes. Catholyte, on the other hand, has a pH of 12 to 13 and is mainly applied for alkalizing the body. The shelf life of anolyte is longer than that of catholyte, and it can be used in a wider range of pH conditions.