Electro-deoxidation method, apparatus and product
AssigneesBritish Titanium PLC., Cambridge Enterprise Limited
InventorsDEREK JOHN FRAY, CARSTEN SCHWANDT, GREG DOUGHTY
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Abstract
The subject invention concerns an electro-decomposition process wherein a cathode comprising a metal compound is contacted with a fused salt electrolyte in an electrochemical cell. The metal compound is a compound between a metal and another substance, and a voltage is applied between the cathode and an anode such that the substance is removed from the metal compound. In the improved method, the applied voltage increases with time, either continuously or stepwise, up to a predetermined maximum voltage. In addition, or in the alternative, the fused salt composition is selected so as to maintain a predetermined concentration of the substance in the fused salt during electro-decomposition.
Claims20
A method for removing a substance from a solid compound comprising the substance and a metal, comprising the steps of:
- a) contacting a cathode comprising the solid compound with a fused-salt electrolyte;
- b) contacting an anode with the electrolyte;
- and
- c) applying a voltage between the cathode and the anode which increases with time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.