Method of producing metals by cathodic dissolution of their compounds

In a process for producing a metal or metalloid from compounds thereof using an electrolytic cell comprising a terminal anode, a terminal cathode and an electrolyte extending therebetween wherein said compounds are solubilized in said electrolyte by direct current reduction in electron conductive contact with said terminal cathode, the improvement comprising:

• (a) providing in said cell between said terminal anode and cathode a plurality of heterogenous bipolar electrodes, each of said heterogenous bipolar electrodes having an anodic portion and a cathodic portion comprised of metal or a mixture of metals;
• (b) feeding said compounds of metal or metalloid to said cell into electronic contact with said cathodic portion of said heteronenous bipolar electrodes electrodes while passing electric current through the cell to simultaneously produce direct cathodic reduction of said compounds on said cathodic portions and liberating metal, or metalloid ions, of lower valence than the metal or metalloid of said compounds into said electrolyte from said anodic portions;
• (c) circulating said electrolyte in a closed circuit including said bipolar electrodes, said terminal cathode and said terminal anode;
• and
• (d) depositing said liberated ionic metal or metaloid on said terminal cathode.