Methods and systems for producing a metal chloride or the like

A method for producing a metal chloride MIClx from a metal MI without the use of HCl and/or Cl2 gases, the method comprising:

• providing a bath vessel holding a conductive fluid;
• disposing an anode in the conductive fluid, wherein the anode comprises metal MI;
• disposing a cathode assembly in the conductive fluid, wherein the cathode assembly comprises a cathode vessel comprising a porous portion and a non-porous portion, the non-porous portion holding a sacrificial metal chloride MIICly substantially separate from the metal chloride MIClx, and wherein the cathode assembly comprises a center lead disposed within the cathode vessel operable for delivering charge to the sacrificial metal chloride MIICly;
• and
• providing a power supply coupling the anode and the cathode assembly, wherein the power supply is polarized to produce current flow in a direction that causes anodic dissolution of metal MI into the conductive fluid and deposition of a metal MII within the cathode vessel;
• wherein a reduction potential of the sacrificial metal chloride MIICly is more noble than a reduction potential of the metal chloride MIClx.

A system for producing a metal halide MIXx from a metal MI, the system comprising:

• a bath vessel holding a conductive fluid;
• an anode disposed in the conductive fluid, wherein the anode comprises metal MI;
• a cathode assembly disposed in the conductive fluid, wherein the cathode assembly comprises a cathode vessel comprising a porous portion and a non-porous portion, the non-porous portion holding a sacrificial metal halide MIIXy substantially separate from the metal halide MIXx, and wherein the cathode assembly comprises a center lead disposed within the cathode vessel operable for delivering charge to the sacrificial metal halide MIIXy;
• and
• a power supply coupling the anode and the cathode assembly, wherein the power supply is polarized to produce current flow in a direction that causes anodic dissolution of metal MI into the conductive fluid and deposition of a metal MII within the cathode vessel;
• wherein a reduction potential of the sacrificial metal halide MIIXy is more noble than a reduction potential of the metal halide MIXx.

A method for producing a metal halide MIXx from a metal MI, the method comprising:

• providing a bath vessel holding a conductive fluid;
• disposing an anode in the conductive fluid, wherein the anode comprises metal MI;
• disposing a cathode assembly in the conductive fluid, wherein the cathode assembly comprises a cathode vessel comprising a porous portion and a non-porous portion, the non-porous portion holding a sacrificial metal halide MIIXy substantially separate from the metal halide MIXx, and wherein the cathode assembly comprises a center lead disposed within the cathode vessel operable for delivering charge to the sacrificial metal halide MIIXy;
• and
• providing a power supply coupling the anode and the cathode assembly, wherein the power supply is polarized to produce current flow in a direction that causes anodic dissolution of metal MI into the conductive fluid and deposition of a metal MII within the cathode vessel;
• wherein a reduction potential of the sacrificial metal halide MIIXy is more noble than a reduction potential of the metal halide MIXx.