Electrolytic systems and methods for making metal halides and refining metals

Title: Electrolytic systems and methods for making metal halides and refining metals

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.

Inventors:: Holland, Justin M.; Cecala, David M.

Issue Date:: 2015-05-26

OSTI Identifier:: 1182592

Assignee:: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (Reston, VA) ORO

Patent Number(s):: 9,039,885

Application Number:: 13/626,222

Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22800

Research Org:: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org:: USDOE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION

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Other works cited in this record:

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Ackerman, John; Miller, William
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Willit, James
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Willit, James; Ackerman, John; Williamson, Mark
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