Electrodes, electrolysis apparatus and methods using uranium-bearing ceramic electrodes, and methods of producing a metal from a metal compound dissolved in a molten salt, including the electrowinning of aluminum

An apparatus for producing aluminum metal from alumina, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a cathodic molten aluminum bath;
• (b) a cryolite-based electrolyte fused salt bath in contact with said cathodic molten aluminum bath, said cryolite-based electrolyte fused salt bath being supplied with a source of alumina;
• (c) at least one anode in contact with said cryolite-based electrolyte fused salt bath, said at least one anode comprising in principal part a uranium-bearing ceramic phase;
• and
• (d) a source of electric current, said current adapted to flow from said cathodic molten aluminum bath to said at least one anode.

A method of producing aluminum metal from alumina, said method comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing an apparatus comprising:
• (a) a cathodic molten aluminum bath;
• (b) a cryolite-based electrolyte fused salt bath in contact with said cathodic molten aluminum bath, said cryolite-based electrolyte fused salt bath being supplied with a source of alumina;
• (c) at least one anode in contact with said cryolite-based electrolyte fused salt bath, said at least one anode comprising in principal part a uranium-bearing ceramic phase;
• and
• (d) a source of electric current, said current adapted to flow from said cathodic molten aluminum bath to said at least one anode;
• and
• (2) causing said current to flow from said cathodic molten aluminum bath to said at least one anode so as to produce aluminum from said alumina.

An apparatus for producing a metal from a molten bath, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a cathodic molten bath comprising a metal in an oxidized state;
• (b) at least one anode in contact with said cathodic molten bath, said at least one anode comprising in principal part a uranium-bearing ceramic phase;
• and
• (c) a source of electric current, said current adapted to flow from said cathodic bath to said at least one anode.

A method of producing metal from a molten salt bath, said method comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing an apparatus comprising:
• (a) a cathodic molten salt bath comprising a metal in an oxidized state;
• (b) at least one anode in contact with said cathodic bath, said at least one anode comprising in principal part a uranium-bearing ceramic phase;
• and
• (c) a source of electric current, said current adapted to flow from said cathodic molten aluminum bath to said at least one anode;
• and
• (2) causing said current to flow from said cathodic bath to said at least one anode so as to produce said metal in a reduced state from said metal in an oxidized state.