Apparatus and method for the electrolytic production of metals

A cell lining for use in an electrolytic cell for the production of a metal product from an oxide based feed material, said lining having all surfaces that contact a molten electrolyte contained within the cell being substantially electrically nonconductive and being formed of a material that, at the operating conditions of the cell:

• (a) is not substantially reduced by the metal product;
• (b) is not substantially reactive with the electrolyte to form a material that is reactive with the metal product;
• and,
• (c) has an electrochemical potential that is more electronegative than that of the feed material undergoing electrolysis to produce the metal product.

An electrolytic cell for the production of a metal product by the electrolytic reduction of an oxide based feed material dissolved in a molten electrolyte, said cell comprising a vessel for containing the molten electrolyte, a vessel lining in contact with the electrolyte, an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode consists of a metal or metallic alloy foundation having a protective layer formed upon an oxidizable material, said oxidizable material being such that it forms an oxide product upon its surface when such surface is contacted with the electrolyte, the electrode being such that, at the operating conditions of the cell the protective layer and oxide product:

• a. are not substantially reduced by the metal product;
• b. are not substantially reactive with the electrolyte to form a material that is reactive with the metal product;
• and,
• c. have an electrochemical potential that is more electronegative than that of the feed material undergoing electrolysis to produce the metal product of the cell.

An electrolytic cell for the production of a metal product by the electrolytic reduction of an oxide based feed material dissolved in a molten electrolyte, said cell comprising a vessel for containing the molten electrolyte, a vessel lining in contact with the electrolyte, at least one vertically oriented anode paired with at least one vertically oriented cathode, wherein at least one of the anode, the cathode;

• or the vessel lining consists of a metal or metallic alloy foundation having a protective layer formed upon an oxidizable material, said oxidizable material being such that it forms an oxide product upon its surface when such surface is contacted with the electrolyte, the electrode being such that at the operating conditions of the cell the protective layer and oxide product:
• a. are not substantially reduced by the metal product;
• b. are not substantially reactive with the electrolyte to form a material that is reactive with the metal product;
• and,
• c. have an electrochemical potential that is more electronegative than that of the feed material undergoing electrolysis to produce the metal product of the cell.

An electrolytic cell for the production of a metal product by the electrolytic production of an oxide based feed material in a molten electrolyte, said cell comprising a vessel for containing the molten electrolyte, a vessel lining in contact with the electrolyte, and a horizontal bipolar electrode stack disposed between a positive feeder electrode and a negative feeder electrode, wherein at least one of the positive feeder electrode, the negative feeder electrode, the bipolar electrode stack or the vessel lining consists of a metal or metallic alloy foundation having a protective layer formed upon an oxidizable material, said oxidizable material being such that it forms an oxide product upon its surface when such surface is contacted with the electrolyte, the electrode being such that, at the operating conditions of the cell the protective layer and oxide product:

• a. are not substantially reduced by the metal product;
• b. are not substantially reactive with the electrolyte to form a material that is reactive with the metal product;
• and,
• c. have an electrochemical potential that is more electronegative than that of the feed material undergoing electrolysis to produce the metal product of the cell.