PROCESS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF MAGNESIUM

摘要

In a process for the electrolytic production of magnesium by the molten salt electrolysis of magnesium chloride using a molten salt cell bath comprised mainly of one or more salts selected from alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal chlorides, the molten salt bath is enriched with magnesium chloride by suspending a magnesium oxide and/or magnesium carbonate powder to form a molten suspension and passing a chlorine-containing gas through the molten suspension at a temperature of 600 - 900.degree.C so as to react the dispensed powder with chloride to form magnesium chloride. The resulting molten salt enriched with magnesium chloride can be directly introduced into the cell for electrolysis, thereby eliminating moisture absorption by the highly hydroscopic magnesium chloride. A pure magnesium can be produced with a high yield and improved current efficiency.