Noble-metal coated inert anode for aluminum production

An inert anode for use in an electrolytic furnace for the production of aluminum from the ore, said anode comprising:

• an essentially horizontal support structure with a connection to an electrical power source, said support structure being attached to an external overhead fixture;
• a plurality of essentially vertical elongated members attached at an upper extremity to said support structure by an attachment means, said elongated members constructed of a high-temperature corrosion-resistant alloy;
• and
• a durable high-melting-point noble-metal coating with catalytic properties deposited on all surfaces of said plurality of elongated members;
• wherein said support structure, said attachment means, said elongated members and said noble-metal coating all are made of electrically conducting materials to enable current from the electrical power source to flow to said all surfaces of said plurality of elongated members;
• whereby inert-anode electrolytic aluminum production results from positioning said support structure so that said noble-metal coated plurality of elongated members is immersed as completely as possible in the electrolyte bath of the electrolytic furnace, with said immersed elongated members and noble-metal coatings remaining intact due to adequate structural integrity and catalytic surface properties at a temperature of said electrolyte bath.