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Title: Combination for electrolytic reduction of alumina

Abstract

An electrolytic bath for use during the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum. The bath comprises molten electrolyte having the following ingredients: AlF.sub.3 and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of NaF, KF, and LiF; and about 0.004 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. %, based on total weight of the molten electrolyte, of at least one transition metal or at least one compound of the metal or both. The compound is, a fluoride; oxide, or carbonate. The metal is nickel, iron, copper, cobalt, or molybdenum. The bath is employed in a combination including a vessel for containing the bath and at least one non-consumable anode and at least one dimensionally stable cathode in the bath. Employing the instant bath during electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum improves the wetting of aluminum on a cathode by reducing or eliminating the formation of non-metallic deposits on the cathode.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Seattle, WA
  2. Lynnwood, WA
  3. Bulleen, AU
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
874384
Patent Number(s):
6379512
Application Number:
09/721,846
Assignee:
Northwest Aluminum Technology (The Dalles, OR)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
310468-A-UF
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
combination; electrolytic; reduction; alumina; bath; aluminum; molten; electrolyte; following; ingredients; alfsub3; salt; selected; consisting; naf; kf; lif; 0004; wt; 02; based; total; weight; transition; metal; compound; fluoride; oxide; carbonate; nickel; iron; copper; cobalt; molybdenum; employed; including; vessel; containing; non-consumable; anode; dimensionally; stable; cathode; employing; instant; improves; wetting; reducing; eliminating; formation; non-metallic; deposits; transition metal; electrolytic reduction; electrolytic bath; /204/

Citation Formats

Brown, Craig W, Brooks, Richard J, Frizzle, Patrick B, and Juric, Drago D. Combination for electrolytic reduction of alumina. United States: N. p., 2002. Web.
Brown, Craig W, Brooks, Richard J, Frizzle, Patrick B, & Juric, Drago D. Combination for electrolytic reduction of alumina. United States.
Brown, Craig W, Brooks, Richard J, Frizzle, Patrick B, and Juric, Drago D. Tue . "Combination for electrolytic reduction of alumina". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874384.
@article{osti_874384,
title = {Combination for electrolytic reduction of alumina},
author = {Brown, Craig W and Brooks, Richard J and Frizzle, Patrick B and Juric, Drago D},
abstractNote = {An electrolytic bath for use during the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum. The bath comprises molten electrolyte having the following ingredients: AlF.sub.3 and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of NaF, KF, and LiF; and about 0.004 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. %, based on total weight of the molten electrolyte, of at least one transition metal or at least one compound of the metal or both. The compound is, a fluoride; oxide, or carbonate. The metal is nickel, iron, copper, cobalt, or molybdenum. The bath is employed in a combination including a vessel for containing the bath and at least one non-consumable anode and at least one dimensionally stable cathode in the bath. Employing the instant bath during electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum improves the wetting of aluminum on a cathode by reducing or eliminating the formation of non-metallic deposits on the cathode.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2002},
month = {Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2002}
}