Reduction of metal oxides in an electrolytic cell
AssigneeBHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd.
InventorsLazar Strezov, Ivan Ratchev, Steve Osborn
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Abstract
A method of reducing a metal oxide in a solid state, in an electrolytic cell, is provided, as is an electrolytic cell suitable for performing the method. The cathode of the electrolytic cell is formed at least in part from the metal oxide to be reduced, and the electrolyte includes cations of a metal that is capable of chemically reducing the cathode metal oxide. The method includes operating the cell at a potential that is above the potential at which cations of the reducing metal will deposit as metal on the cathode.
Claims9
A method of reducing a titanium oxide in a solid state in an electrolytic cell, which electrolytic cell includes a graphite anode, a cathode formed at least in part from the titanium oxide, and a molten electrolyte that is based on CaCl2 and includes CaO as one of the constituents, and which method includes a step of operating the cell at a potential that is above a potential at which Ca cations in the electrolyte deposit as Ca metal on the cathode, whereby the Ca metal chemically reduces the cathode titanium oxide.
An electrolytic cell including a graphite anode, a cathode formed at least in part from a titanium oxide in a solid state, and a molten electrolyte that is based on CaCl2 and includes CaO as one of the constituents, and which electrolytic cell operates at a potential that is above a potential at which Ca cations in the electrolyte deposit as Ca metal on the cathode, whereby the Ca metal chemically reduces the cathode titanium oxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.