Thermal and electrochemical process for metal production

摘要

A system for purification of high value metals comprises an electrolytic cell in which an anode formed of a composite of a metal oxide of the metal of interest with carbon is electrochemically reduced in a molten salt electrolyte.

主权项

1. A method for the production of a substantially pure metal alloy of interest which comprises thermally reducing two or more metals of interest at an anode in a molten salt electrolyte, the anode being formed of a composite of two or more oxides of the two or more metals and carbon, wherein sufficient carbon is present to stoichiometrically react with the reduced metals in the metal oxides to produce the substantially pure metal alloy at a metallic cathode and electrochemically form CO2 and/or CO at the anode without the formation of a metal carbide.