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Electrolytic systems and methods for making metal halides and refining metals

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1182592
;
Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods for producing a halide of a non-alkali metal and for electrorefining the halide. The systems typically involve an electrochemical cell having a cathode structure configured for dissolving a hydrogen halide that forms the halide into a molten salt of the halogen and an alkali metal. Typically a direct current voltage is applied across the cathode and an anode that is fabricated with the non-alkali metal such that the halide of the non-alkali metal is formed adjacent the anode. Electrorefining cells and methods involve applying a direct current voltage across the anode where the halide of the non-alkali metal is formed and the cathode where the non-alkali metal is electro-deposited. In a representative embodiment the halogen is chlorine, the alkali metal is lithium and the non-alkali metal is uranium.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22800
Assignee:
Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (Reston, VA)
Patent Number(s):
9,039,885
Application Number:
13/626,222
OSTI ID:
1182592
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (1)

The recovery of chlorine from hydrogen chloride Part 1: new method using a molten salt as the electrolyte journal November 1971

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