Apparatus and process for the production of metals in stacked electrolytic cells
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for reducing an alkali metal salt to an alkali metal, comprising:
- a plurality of serially connected electrolytic cells, each cell comprising an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and an ionic conductor impermeable to water and water vapor separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment; and
a voltage source for supplying a voltage across the cells.
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for reducing an alkali metal salt to an alkali metal through electrolysis in a series of electrolytic cells are disclosed. The process employs as a separator between anode and cathode compartments a material that is both an ionic conductor of the metal ion and an electrical insulator. Preferred metals are sodium, lithium and potassium.
36 Citations
110 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing an alkali metal salt to an alkali metal, comprising:
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a plurality of serially connected electrolytic cells, each cell comprising an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and an ionic conductor impermeable to water and water vapor separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment; and
a voltage source for supplying a voltage across the cells. - 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, 25)
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26. An electrolytic cell for reducing metal salts to metals, comprising:
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a stack of electrolytic cells wherein at least two of the electrolytic cells are electrically connected in series, and wherein each of the at least two of the electrolytic cells comprises;
an anode compartment containing a solution of an alkali metal salt;
a container at least partially immersed in the solution of the alkali metal salt; and
a cathode comprising at least an alkali metal, the cathode being provided within the container. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An electrolytic cell for reducing metal salts to metals, comprising:
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a stack of electrolytic cells wherein at least two of the electrolytic cells are electrically connected in series, and wherein each of the at least two of the electrolytic cells comprises;
an anode compartment containing a molten metal salt;
a container at least partially immersed in the molten metal salt; and
a cathode comprising an alkali metal, the cathode being provided within the container. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48)
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43. An electrolysis system, comprising:
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a plurality of electrolytic cells that are electrically connected in series, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrolytic cells comprises;
an anode compartment including an anolyte, the anolyte comprising a molten alkali metal salt or an aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt;
a cathode compartment including a catholyte, the catholyte comprising an alkali metal; and
an ionic conductor separating the anolyte from the catholyte. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50)
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51. A method for generating an alkali metal from an alkali metal salt, comprising:
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providing a plurality of electrolytic cells, at least two of the plurality of electrolytic cells being electrically connected in series, wherein each of the at least two of the electrolytic cells comprises an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and an ionic conductor separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment; and
applying a voltage across the plurality of electrolytic cells. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method for reducing metal salts to metals, comprising:
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providing a stack of electrolytic cells wherein at least two of the electrolytic cells are electrically connected in series, and wherein each of the at least two of the electrolytic cells comprises an anode containing a solution of an alkali metal salt, a container at least partially immersed in the solution of the alkali metal salt, and a cathode containing an alkali metal, the cathode being provided within the container; and
applying a voltage across the plurality of electrolytic cells. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A method of reducing metal salts to metals, comprising:
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providing a stack of electrolytic cells wherein at least two of the electrolytic cells are electrically connected in series, and wherein each of the at least two of the electrolytic cells comprises an anode containing a molten metal salt, a container at least partially immersed in the molten metal salt, and a cathode containing an alkali metal, the cathode being provided within the container; and
applying a voltage across the plurality of electrolytic cells. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A method for generating an alkali metal from an alkali metal salt, comprising:
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providing a series of at least two electrolytic cells, each electrolytic cell comprising an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and an ionic conductor separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment;
connecting the cathode compartment of one of the at least two electrolytic cells with the anode compartment of the other of the at least two electrolytic cells;
seeding the cathode compartment with an alkali metal;
providing an alkali metal salt in liquid form to the anode compartment; and
applying a voltage across the at least two electrolytic cells. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104)
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105. A bipolar stack, comprising:
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a plurality of electrolytic cells, each cell comprising an anode, an anode compartment, a cathode, a cathode compartment, and an ionic conductor separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment;
wherein the anode of a first cell unit is in electrical contact with the cathode of a second cell unit; and
a voltage source for supplying a voltage across the cells. - View Dependent Claims (106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
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Specification