Electrochemical cell and process for producing metal and chlorine gas

An electrowinning process for producing metal and chlorine, comprising:

• providing an electrochemical cell comprising (i) a cathode comprising low-carbon steel, copper, iron, graphite, vitreous carbon, or titanium, (ii) an anode comprising an oxide coating comprising Ru, Pt, Ir, or any combination thereof, on a conducting substrate, (iii) a separator between the cathode and the anode, the separator comprising a porous composite or a cation-selective membrane, and (iv) a voltage source electrically connected to the cathode and the anode;
• providing a catholyte comprising (i) water, (ii) a metal hydroxide comprising Q, where Q is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a combination thereof, and (iii) suspended metal ore particles comprising MxOy where M is a metal and x and y are integers;
• providing an anolyte comprising water and a metal chloride comprising Q;
• and
• applying a voltage across the electrochemical cell to effect reduction of the MxOy in the catholyte to provide the metal M and oxidation of chloride ions in the anolyte to form Cl2 gas.