Method and reactor for the production of alkali metal

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a method and reactor for producing alkali metal from a feed liquid containing alkali metal hydroxide. The method comprises feeding a feed liquid into an electrolytic cell comprising an anode region holding an anode and anolyte, a cathode region holding a cathode and catholyte comprising an alkali metal-based conductive salt in an organic solvent, and a barrier partitioning the anode region and the cathode, the barrier being selective for alkali metal cation transfer from the feed liquid, the anolyte and alkali metal based conductive salt in the catholyte share the same alkali metal cation; and applying a voltage across the electrolytic cell to cause transfer of the alkali metal cation to the cathode region and precipitation of the alkali metal on the cathode. The reactor configured for performing the method, comprises, inter alia, an electrolytic cell comprising an anode region comprising an anode, a cathode region comprising a cathode and configured for operating within an electrolyte organic solvent and a barrier partitioning the anode region from the cathode, the barrier being selective for alkali metal cation conduction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.