Electrolysis apparatus for the production of iron with an improved gas permeable anode plate

An apparatus for production of iron through reduction of iron ore by an electrolysis reaction, the electrolysis reaction emitting a gas, the apparatus comprising:

• a casing including a gas-permeable anode plate, a cathode plate, both facing each other and being separated by an electrolyte chamber, the gas-permeable anode plate having a side facing the cathode plate,
• the casing being provided with a circulator for circulating an electrolyte within the electrolyte chamber and with a supply to supply iron ore to the electrolyte chamber,
• the casing further including a degassing unit including a gas recovery part extending along an opposite side of the gas-permeable anode plate to the chamber and being able to recover gas from the electrolysis reaction escaping through the gas-permeable anode plate, the gas-permeable anode plate being made of a cellular material including a plurality of cells extending from the electrolyte chamber to the gas recovery part, each cell being delimited by a circumferential wall and being open on the side and the opposite side of the gas-permeable anode plate, the circumferential wall of each cell being made from a plurality of metallic sheets interlocked together via an interlock.