Apparatus and method for the electrolytic production of metals

Patent · 01 January 1991

OSTI ID:867737

Sadoway, Donald R ^[1]

---

1. Belmont, MA

Improved electrolytic cells and methods for producing metals by electrolytic reduction of a compound dissolved in a molten electrolyte are disclosed. In the improved cells and methods, a protective surface layer is formed upon at least one electrode in the electrolytic reduction cell and, optionally, upon the lining of the cell. This protective surface layer comprises a material that, at the operating conditions of the cell: (a) is not substantially reduced by the metal product; (b) is not substantially reactive with the cell electrolyte to form materials that are reactive with the metal product; and, (c) has an electrochemical potential that is more electronegative than that of the compound undergoing electrolysis to produce the metal product of the cell. The protective surface layer can be formed upon an electrode metal layer comprising a material, the oxide of which also satisfies the protective layer selection criteria. The protective layer material can also be used on the surface of a cell lining.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-83ID12380
• Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4999097
• OSTI ID: 867737
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/204/
apparatus
cell
cell electrolyte
cells
compound
compound dissolved
comprises
comprising
conditions
criteria
disclosed
dissolved
electrochemical
electrochemical potential
electrode
electrode metal
electrolysis
electrolyte
electrolytic
electrolytic cell
electrolytic cells
electrolytic production
electrolytic reduction
electronegative
form
formed
improved
improved cell
improved cells
improved electrolytic
layer
layer comprises
layer comprising
layer material
lining
material
materials
metal
metal layer
metal product
metals
method
methods
molten
molten electrolyte
operating
operating condition
operating conditions
optionally
oxide
potential
produce
producing
producing metal
producing metals
product
production
protective
protective layer
protective surface
reactive
reduced
reduction
reduction cell
satisfies
selection
substantially
substantially reduce
substantially reduced
surface
surface layer
undergoing