METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR METAL EXTRACTION

摘要

An amperometric in situ apparatus and technique for measuring the concen-trations and transport properties of easily dissociable oxides in slags is described. The technique consists of a combination of different measurements utilizing an elec-trolyte to separate a reference-gas compartment from the slag of interest. A potentiometric measurement (type I) provides information on the thermodynamic properties of the slag; and amperometric measurement (type II) yields information concerning the type and transport prop-erties of dissociable oxides; an electroly-sis measurement (type III) determines the concentration of dissociable oxides. A method and apparatus for metals extrac-tion is also described which includes a vessel for holding a molten electrolyte, the electrolyte comprising a mobile metal-lic species and an anionic species hav-ing a diffusivity greater than about 10-5 cm2/sec; a cathode and an anode, the cath-ode in electrical contact with the molten electrolyte, the cathode and molten elec-trolyte separated from the anode by an ionic membrane capable of transporting the anionic species of the electrolyte into the membrane; and a power source for generating a potential between the cathode and the anode.