Electrolysis apparatus and methods using urania in electrodes, and methods of producing reduced substances from oxidized substances
AssigneeThe Ohio State University
InventorsKenneth H. Sandhage, Robert L. Snyder
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Abstract
The present invention includes uranium-bearing ceramic phase electrodes and electrolysis apparatus and electrolysis methods featuring same, including methods of metal production and the like by the electrolytic reduction of oxides or salts of the respective metals. More particularly, the invention relates to an inert type electrode composition, and methods for fabricating electrode compositions, useful in the electrolytic production of such metals. The present invention also includes an inert-type electrode composition, and methods for fabricating electrode compositions, used in processes for generating energy from fossil fuels.
Claims20
An electrolysis apparatus comprising:
- (a) an electrolyte;
- (b) at least one anode in contact with said electrolyte, said at least one anode comprising at least 20 percent of a uranium-bearing ceramic phase, wherein said uranium-bearing ceramic phase is selected from the group consisting of urania, uranium nitride, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (c) an electrical conduit connecting said electrolyte and said at least one anode so as to complete an electrical circuit comprising said electrolyte and said at least one anode.
An apparatus for producing a reduced substance from an oxidized substance, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) an electrolyte bath containing said oxidized substance;
- (b) at least one anode in contact with said electrolyte bath, said at least one anode comprising in principal part a uranium-bearing ceramic phase, wherein said uranium-bearing ceramic phase is selected from the group consisting of urania, uranium nitride, and mixtures thereof;
- (c) an electrical conduit connecting said electrolyte bath and said at least one anode so as to complete an electrical circuit comprising said electrolyte bath and said at least one anode;
- and
- (d) a source of electric current, said current adapted to flow from said electrolyte bath to said at least one anode, so as to be capable of converting said oxidized substance to said reduced substance.
A method of producing a reduced substance from an oxidized substance, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing an apparatus comprising:
- (a) an electrolyte bath containing said oxidized substance;
- (b) at least one anode in contact with said electrolyte bath, said at least one anode comprising in principal part a uranium-bearing ceramic phase, wherein said uranium-bearing ceramic phase is selected from the group consisting of urania, uranium nitride, and mixtures thereof;
- (c) an electrical conduit connecting said electrolyte bath and said at least one anode so as to complete an electrical circuit comprising said electrolyte bath and said at least one anode;
- and
- (d) a source of electric current, said current adapted to flow from said electrolyte bath to said at least one anode, so as to be capable of converting said oxidized substance to said reduced substance;
- and
- (2) causing said current to flow from said electrolyte bath to said at least one anode so as to produce said reduced substance from said oxidized substance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.