Method and apparatus for producing metal

A method for producing a metal which comprises:

• a reduction step in which a metal oxide is introduced into a CaCl2-based molten salt containing Ca for the formation of said metal by reduction of the metal oxide with Ca in the molten salt;
• a separation step in which the metal formed in the molten salt is separated from the molten salt;
• a chlorination step in which the molten salt after separation of said metal is subjected to chlorination treatment with chlorine gas to chlorinate the byproduct CaO in the molten salt;
• and
• an electrolysis step in which the molten salt after chlorination treatment is electrolyzed to form Ca and chlorine from CaCl2, and the thus-formed Ca or Ca-containing molten salt is sent to the above-mentioned reduction step, wherein, in said reduction step, the metal formed is allowed to settle and the metal that has settled is drawn out together with the molten salt and transferred to the separation step.

An apparatus for producing a metal comprising:

• a reduction chamber in which a CaCl2-based molten salt containing Ca is held and a metal oxide introduced into the molten salt is reduced with Ca in the molten salt to obtain said metal;
• means for separating the metal formed in the molten salt from the molten salt;
• a chlorination chamber in which the molten salt after separation of the metal is held and the molten salt is subjected to chlorination treatment with chlorine gas for the chlorination of the byproduct CaO in the molten salt;
• an electrolysis chamber in which the molten salt after chlorination treatment is held and the molten salt is electrolyzed to form Ca and chlorine from CaCl2;
• and
• means for transferring the thus-formed Ca or Ca-containing molten salt from the electrolysis chamber to said reduction chamber.

An apparatus for producing a metal comprising:

• a reduction chamber in which a CaCl2-based molten salt containing Ca is held and a metal oxide introduced into the molten salt is reduced with Ca in the molten salt to obtain said metal;
• means for separating the metal formed in the molten salt from the molten salt;
• a chlorination chamber in which the molten salt after separation of the metal is held and the molten salt is subjected to chlorination treatment with chlorine gas for the chlorination of the byproduct CaO in the molten salt;
• an electrolysis chamber in which the molten salt after chlorination treatment is held and the molten salt is electrolyzed to form Ca and chlorine from CaCl2;
• and
• means for transferring the thus-formed Ca or Ca-containing molten salt from the electrolysis chamber to said reduction chamber,
• wherein said chlorination chamber is unified with said reduction chamber.

An apparatus for producing a metal comprising:

• a reduction chamber in which a CaCl2-based molten salt containing Ca is held and a metal oxide introduced into the molten salt is reduced with Ca in the molten salt to obtain said metal;
• means for separating the metal formed in the molten salt from the molten salt;
• a chlorination chamber in which the molten salt after separation of the metal is held and the molten salt is subjected to chlorination treatment with chlorine gas for the chlorination of the byproduct CaO in the molten salt;
• an electrolysis chamber in which the molten salt after chlorination treatment is held and the molten salt is electrolyzed to form Ca and chlorine from CaCl2;
• and
• means for transferring the thus-formed Ca or Ca-containing molten salt from the electrolysis chamber to said reduction chamber,
• wherein said electrolysis chamber is integrated with said reduction chamber.