Electrolyte treatment for aluminum reduction

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874955

Brown, Craig W ^[1]; Brooks, Richard J ^[1]; Frizzle, Patrick B ^[1]; Juric, Drago D ^[2]

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1. Seattle, WA
2. Bulleen, AU

A method of treating an electrolyte for use in the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum employing an anode and a cathode, the alumina dissolved in the electrolyte, the treating improving wetting of the cathode with molten aluminum during electrolysis. The method comprises the steps of providing a molten electrolyte comprised of ALF.sub.3 and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of NaF, KF and LiF, and treating the electrolyte by providing therein 0.004 to 0.2 wt. % of a transition metal or transition metal compound for improved wettability of the cathode with molten aluminum during subsequent electrolysis to reduce alumina to aluminum.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: 310468-A-UF
• Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Technologies (Seattle, WA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6497807
• Application Number: 09/721,845
• OSTI ID: 874955
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

electrolyte
treatment
aluminum
reduction
method
treating
electrolytic
alumina
employing
anode
cathode
dissolved
improving
wetting
molten
electrolysis
steps
providing
comprised
alfsub3
salt
selected
consisting
naf
kf
lif
0004
02
wt
transition
metal
compound
improved
wettability
subsequent
reduce
transition metal
metal compound
molten aluminum
aluminum reduction
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