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Title: Electrolytic method for the production of lithium using a lithium--amalgam electrode

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6377463

A method is described for recovering lithium from its molten amalgam by electrolysis of the amalgam in an electrolytic cell containing as a molten electrolyte a fused salt consisting essentially of a mixture of two or more alkali metal halides, preferably alkali metal halides selected from lithium iodide, lithium chloride, potassium iodide, and potassium chloride. A particularly suitable molten electrolyte is a fused salt consisting essentially of a mixture of at least three components obtained by modifying eutectic mixture of LiI--KI by the addition of a minor amount of one or more alkali metal halides. The lithium-amalgam fused-salt cell may be used in an electrolytic system for recovering lithium from an aqueous solution of a lithium compound, wherein electrolysis of the aqueous solution in an aqueous cell in the presence of a mercury cathode produces a lithium amalgam. The present method is particularly useful for the regeneration of lithium from the aqueous reaction products of a lithium--water--air battery. 1 figure.

Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
OSTI ID:
6377463
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English