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

Abstract

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:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1182592
Patent Number(s):
9039885
Application Number:
13/626,222
Assignee:
Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (Reston, VA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25B - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22800
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION

Citation Formats

Holland, Justin M., and Cecala, David M. Electrolytic systems and methods for making metal halides and refining metals. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
Holland, Justin M., & Cecala, David M. Electrolytic systems and methods for making metal halides and refining metals. United States.
Holland, Justin M., and Cecala, David M. Tue . "Electrolytic systems and methods for making metal halides and refining metals". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1182592.
@article{osti_1182592,
title = {Electrolytic systems and methods for making metal halides and refining metals},
author = {Holland, Justin M. and Cecala, David M.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 26 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Tue May 26 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Nuclear fuel electrorefiner
patent, February 2004


Method for making a uranium chloride salt product
patent, October 2004


Uranium dioxide electrolysis
patent, December 2009


The recovery of chlorine from hydrogen chloride Part 1: new method using a molten salt as the electrolyte
journal, November 1971


    Works referencing / citing this record: