Thermal and electrochemical process for metal production
AssigneeMaterials & Electrochemical Research Corp.
InventorsJames C. Withers, Raouf O. Loutfy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for purification of high value metals comprises an electrolytic cell in which an anode formed of a composite of a metal oxide of the metal of interest with carbon is electrochemically reduced in a molten salt electrolyte.
Claims21
A method for the production of a substantially pure metal alloy of interest which comprises thermally reducing two or more metals of interest at an anode in a molten salt electrolyte, the anode being formed of a composite of two or more oxides of the two or more metals and carbon, wherein sufficient carbon is present to stoichiometrically react with the reduced metals in the metal oxides to produce the substantially pure metal alloy at a metallic cathode and electrochemically form CO2 and/or CO at the anode without the formation of a metal carbide.
A method for the direct production of a metal alloy of interest in a particulate state which comprises subjecting an anode, formed of a composite of oxides of two or more metals of interest and carbon, to thermal reduction and electrolysis in a cell containing a molten salt electrolyte and a metallic cathode, wherein sufficient carbon is present to stoichiometrically react with the thermally reduced metal oxides to produce a substantially pure metal alloy of interest at the cathode, and electrochemically form CO2 and/or CO at the anode without the formation of a metal carbide.
A method for the production of a substantially pure metal of interest which comprises thermally reducing the metal of interest at an anode formed of a composite of two or more oxides of the metal of interest and carbon in a molten salt electrolyte, wherein the carbon present stoichiometrically reacts with the reduced metal oxides to produce the substantially pure metal of interest at a metallic cathode and CO2 and/or CO at the anode without the formation of a metal carbide, and wherein an electric current is applied in a pulsed manner.
A method for the direct production of a substantially pure metal of interest in a particulate state which comprises subjecting an anode, formed of a composite of two or more oxides of the metal of interest and carbon, to thermal and electrolytic reduction in a cell containing a molten salt electrolyte and a metallic cathode, wherein sufficient carbon is present to stoichiometrically react with the thermally reduced metal oxides to produce the substantially pure metal of interest at the cathode and electrolytically form CO2 and/or CO at the anode without the formation of a metal carbide, and wherein an electric current is applied in a pulsed manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.