| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To produce a high purity rare earth metal in an electrolytic cell with high current efficiency by providing a diaphragm having a specified electric resistance in an electrolyte between anode and cathode. CONSTITUTION:A diaphragm 2 of high purity alumina, stainless steel or the like having 0.05-10OMEGA/cm electric resistance in a molten salt electrolytic bath 5 is provided between anode 3 and cathode 4 in an electrolytic cell 1. A rare earth metallic compd. as starting material is fed into the cell 1 with a feeder 6, DC is supplied between the electrodes 3, 4 and an exhaust system 7 is worked to reduce the internal pressure of the cell 1 to about 1-100mmHg through a vent 17. Since a side reaction and a reverse reaction are inhibited by the diaphragm 2 between the electrodes 3, 4, the current efficiency is considerably improved. The electrolytic bath 5 is composed essentially of alkali metallic fluoride and alkaline earth metallic fluoride. A high purity rare earth metal or an alloy of rare earth metals is produced and accumulated in a product discharge pipe 12.
|
