Carbon containing Cu-Ni-Fe anodes for electrolysis of alumina
AssigneeNorthwest Aluminum Company
InventorS. Craig Bergsma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of producing aluminum in a low temperature electrolytic cell containing alumina dissolved in an electrolyte. The method comprises the steps of providing a molten electrolyte having alumina dissolved therein in an electrolytic cell containing the electrolyte. A non-consumable anode and cathode is disposed in the electrolyte, the anode comprised of Cu—Ni—Fe alloys containing 0.1 to 5 wt. % carbon and incidental elements and impurities. Electric current is passed from the anode, through the electrolyte to the cathode thereby depositing aluminum on the cathode, and molten aluminum is collected from the cathode.
Claims30
A method of producing aluminum in a low temperature electrolytic cell containing alumina dissolved in an electrolyte, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a molten electrolyte having alumina dissolved therein in an electrolytic cell containing said electrolyte;
- (b) providing a non-consumable anode and cathode disposed in said electrolyte, said anode comprised of a Cu—Ni—Fe alloy containing 0.1 to 5 wt. % carbon, incidental elements and impurities;
- (c) passing electric current from said anode, through said electrolyte to said cathode thereby depositing aluminum on said cathode;
- and
- (d) collecting molten aluminum from said cathode.
The method in accordance with claim 4 including maintaining up to 30 wt. % undissolved alumina particles in said electrolyte to provide a slurry therein.
The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein at least one of said metal bottom and sidewalls are electrically connected to said anodes thereby making at least one of said bottom and sidewalls anodic.
A method of producing aluminum in a low temperature electrolytic cell containing alumina dissolved in an electrolyte, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a cell comprising a vessel having a bottom and walls extending upwardly from said bottom for containing electrolyte;
- (b) providing a molten electrolyte having alumina dissolved therein in said vessel;
- (c) providing a plurality of generally vertically disposed non-consumable anodes and a plurality of generally vertically disposed cathodes in said electrolyte in alternating relationship with said anodes, said anodes are cast anodes comprised of about 10 to 70 wt. % Cu, 15 to 60 wt. % Ni, 15 to 40 wt % Fe and 0.1 to 5 wt. % C;
- (d) passing an electric current through said vessel to said anodes and through said electrolyte to said cathodes, thereby depositing aluminum on said cathodes;
- and
- (e) collecting aluminum from said cathodes.
In an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina dissolved in an electrolyte contained in the cell, wherein a plurality of non-consumable anodes and cathodes are disposed in a vertical direction in the electrolyte in alternating relationship wherein electric current is passed from said anodes through said electrolyte to said cathodes and aluminum is deposited on said cathodes, the improvement wherein said anodes are comprised of 10 to 70 wt. % Cu, 15 to 60 wt. % Ni, 0.1 to 5 wt. % C, the balance Fe and incidental elements and impurities.
An electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina dissolved in an electrolyte contained in the cell, the cell comprising:
- (a) a vessel having a bottom and walls extending upwardly from said bottom, and an interior metal lining for containing electrolyte;
- (b) a plurality of non-consumable anodes disposed in said vessel, said anodes comprised of 10 to 70 wt. % Cu, 15 to 60 wt. % Ni, 0.1 to 5 wt. % C, the balance Fe and incidental elements and impurities;
- (c) a plurality of cathodes disposed in said vessel in alternating relationship with said anodes, the metal lining electrically conductive, said cell designed to pass electric current from said anodes through said electrolyte to said cathodes to deposit aluminum at said cathodes;
- and
- (d) means provided for removing aluminum from said cell.
A non-consumable anode suitable for use in a low temperature electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina dissolved in an electrolyte contained in the cell, the anode comprised of copper, nickel, iron and 0.1 to 5 wt. % C, incidental elements and impurities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.