Processes for separating metals from metal salts
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for reducing a metal borate, comprising:
- providing an electrolytic cell containing an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator which is permeable to metal ions and not permeable to water and water vapor;
supplying a metal borate compound to the anode compartment; and
applying an electric potential to the cell.
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Abstract
Electrochemical processes and apparatus for obtaining metals from metal salts, particularly separating alkali metal and borate ions from alkali metal borate compounds, are disclosed. Aqueous solutions of metal borates or metal carbonates are converted to metals by preferred electrochemical processes. These electrochemical processes also may be integrated into processes for the production of borohydrides, such as sodium borohydride.
45 Citations
88 Claims
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1. A process for reducing a metal borate, comprising:
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providing an electrolytic cell containing an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator which is permeable to metal ions and not permeable to water and water vapor;
supplying a metal borate compound to the anode compartment; and
applying an electric potential to the cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A process for reducing a metal carbonate, comprising:
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providing an electrolytic cell containing an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator which is permeable to metal ions and not permeable to water and water vapor;
supplying a metal carbonate compound to the anode compartment; and
applying an electric potential to the cell. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A process for producing a metal and a trialkylborate compound by reducing a metal borate in an electrolytic cell containing anode and cathode compartments separated by a separator which is permeable to metal ions and not permeable to water and water vapor, comprising:
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supplying a metal borate compound and at least one alcohol to the anode compartment; and
applying an electric potential to the cell. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A process for producing a borohydride, comprising:
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electrolyzing an aqueous solution comprising a metal borate and at least one alcohol in an electrolytic cell to produce a metal and a trialkyl borate, the electrolytic cell containing anode and cathode compartments separated by a separator which is permeable to metal ions and not permeable to water and water vapor;
reacting the metal with hydrogen to produce a metal hydride; and
reacting the metal hydride and the trialkyl borate to form a borohydride. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A process for producing a borohydride, comprising:
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providing an electrolytic cell containing anode and cathode compartments separated by a separator which is permeable to metal ions and not permeable to water and water vapor;
providing an aqueous solution containing at least an alkali metal borate and at least an alkali metal hydroxide in the electrolytic cell;
subjecting the aqueous solution to an electrolysis process to produce an alkali metal and boric acid;
reacting the alkali metal with hydrogen to produce an alkali metal hydride;
converting boric acid generated in the anode compartment to a trialkyl borate; and
reacting the alkali metal hydride and the trialkyl borate to form a borohydride. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
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88. A process for producing sodium borohydride, comprising:
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electrolyzing an aqueous solution of sodium borate and alcohol to produce sodium metal and trialkylborate;
reacting the sodium metal with hydrogen to produce sodium hydride;
reacting the sodium hydride and trialkylborate to produce borohydride and sodium alkoxide;
hydrolyzing sodium alkoxide to sodium hydroxide and methanol;
recycling the methanol for production of trialkylborate from boric acid; and
electrolyzing sodium hydroxide to sodium metal.
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Specification