Electrowinning of neodymium from a molten oxide-fluoride electrolyte. Report of investigations/1994

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:7168096

Dysinger, D K; Murphy, J E

Neodymium metal of 99.8 percent purity was prepared by electrolysis of Nd2O3 salts dissolved in a molten fluoride electrolyte. The metal was electrowon in a molten state at current efficiencies of 50 to 60 percent. Oxygen and carbon were the major impurities detected in the product. During operation of the small scale laboratory cell, a number of technical problems including anode effect, low oxide solubility in the electrolyte, high neodymium metal solubility, reactivity of the metal with the cell materials, and back reaction of the metal with the anode gases were encountered. Approaches to improve cell operation and prospects for commercial adoption of the electrolytic production of neodymium metal are discussed.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Reno, NV (United States). Reno Research Center
• OSTI ID: 7168096
• Report Number(s): PB-94-178126/XAB; BUMINES-RI-9504
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
NEODYMIUM
ELECTROMETALLURGY
PURIFICATION
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
ELEMENTS
METALLURGY
METALS
RARE EARTHS
360101* - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication