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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF METALS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4838810
A process is given for the continuous electrolytic refinement of high- melting reactive metals such as Ti, Zr, Hf, Th, Nb, U, Be, etc. In this process, a solid alloy anode is used which consists of the reactive metal and a less reactive metal with a low melting point, e.g., Pb, Sn, Bi, or Zn. The anode is immersed in a molten salt electrolyte, and an electromotive force is applied to the anode so that ions of the reaetive metal are released from the anode to the electrolyte. When the material at the anode surface is depleted sufficiently in the reactive metal, it drops off from the surface in the liquid phase and sinks to the bottom of the cell, thus clearing the anode surface. Examples of the process are given in which Ti and Zr are refined. (D.L.C.)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-16-020969
Assignee:
DTIE; NSA-16-020969
Patent Number(s):
US 3036961
OSTI ID:
4838810
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English