Abstract: An electrochemical cell and method for electrowinning a variety of multivalent metals including titanium is described. In one aspect, the invention provides an electrochemical cell comprising an anolyte chamber comprising an anode and configured for containing an anolyte, a catholyte chamber comprising a cathode and configured for containing a catholyte comprising a metal to be electrolytically produced, and a diaphragm separating the anolyte chamber and the catholyte chamber, the diaphragm configured to control the potential drop across the diaphragm so that it is below the potential difference required for inducing bipolarity at the diaphragm.

Abstract: A method of preparing a metal containing inorganic ion exchanger in an electrochemical cell is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: (a) adding the inorganic ion exchanger to the electrochemical cell, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a conductive electrolyte solution having a liquid phase and a solid phase; (b) depositing metal ions electrochemically into the liquid phase; (c) allowing the metal ions to deposit onto the inorganic ion exchanger during an electrochemical reaction to obtain a metal containing inorganic ion exchanger; (d) collecting the solid phase comprising the metal containing inorganic ion exchanger obtained in step (c); (e) removing remaining metal ions from the liquid phase; and (f) obtaining a substantially metal free liquid phase.

Abstract: An electrolytic extraction method wins a target element from an oxide feedstock compound thereof. The feedstock compound is dissolved in an oxide melt in contact with a cathode and an anode in an electrolytic cell. During electrolysis the target element is deposited at a liquid cathode and coalesces therewith. Oxygen is evolved on an anode bearing a solid oxide layer, in contact with the oxide melt, over a metallic anode substrate.

Abstract: In a method for producing metal powder, the first part of an acid-containing starting solution is fed on the anode side of an electrolytic cell as anolyte, to contact the anode and supply material containing yield metal, and a second part of the acid-containing starting solution, which also contains intermediary metal, is fed on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell, to contact the cathode as catholyte. Yield metal is oxidized and dissolved in the anolyte by leading electric current in the anode. The yield metal contained in the second part of the starting solution is reduced on the cathode side. Anolyte solution and catholyte solution are fed to a precipitating chamber for mixing the dissolved, oxidized yield metal and the second part of the starting solution containing reduced intermediary metal.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes are disclosed for electrowinning metal from a fluid stream. A representative apparatus comprises at least one spouted bed reactor wherein each said reactor includes an anolyte chamber comprising an anode and configured for containing an anolyte, a catholyte chamber comprising a current collector and configured for containing a particulate cathode bed and a flowing stream of an electrically conductive metal-containing fluid, and a membrane separating said anolyte chamber and said catholyte chamber, an inlet for an electrically conductive metal-containing fluid stream; and a particle bed churning device configured for spouting particle bed particles in the catholyte chamber independently of the flow of said metal-containing fluid stream. In operation, reduced heavy metals or their oxides are recovered from the cathode particles.

Abstract: An electrolytic extraction method wins a target element from an oxide feedstock compound thereof. The feedstock compound is dissolved in an oxide melt in contact with a cathode and an anode in an electrolytic cell. During electrolysis the target element is deposited at a liquid cathode and coalesces therewith. Oxygen is evolved on an anode bearing a solid oxide layer, in contact with the oxide melt, over a metallic anode substrate.

Abstract: A method of winning a metal from its oxide ore by heating the ore in a partial vacuum or under an inert atmosphere in the presence of a reductant. The resulting product may be further reduced electrochemically to produce a purer metal.

Abstract: A cell (100) for metal electrowinning from metal ion solutions is described, wherein the cathode (1) consists of a falling bed of growing beads; the beads, withdrawn from the lower part of the bed, are recycled to the top section of the cathodic compartment by means of an external vertical duct (3).

Abstract: It is herein described an electrowinning cell with a spouted bed electrode of growing metallic beads, separated by a semi-permeable diaphragm and suitable for being assembled in a stack in a modular arrangement.

Abstract: A method for producing a pure metal M or metal alloy MxNy, of interest, which comprises electrolyzing a molten salt electrolyte of an alkali-metal or alkaline-earth metal halide AX or AX2, with an anode formed of graphite or made of a composite of a metal oxide of the metal of interest and carbon, to discharge the alkali or alkaline-earth metal A, at the cathode, and to discharge nascent chlorine gas at the anode, whereby to produce a halide of the metal of interest MXn and/or NXn, and metallothermically reducing the metal halide MXn and/or NXn either separately or combined, with the alkali or alkaline-earth metal A, obtained cathodically to produce the metal M or the metal alloy MxNy of interest in particulate form.

Abstract: A low temperature method for reducing and purifying refractory metals, metal compounds, and semi-metals using a catalyst. Using this invention, TiO2 can be reduced directly to Ti metal at room temperature. The catalyst is an ion in an electrolyte that catalyzes the rate of the reduction of a compound MX to M, wherein M is a metal or a semi-metal; MX is a metal compound, a semi-metal compound, or a metal or semi-metal dissolved as an impurity in M; and X is an element chemically combined with or dissolved in M.

Abstract: Process for the electrochemical decomposition of precursors in powder form by introducing a powder batch between two electrodes of an electrolysis cell, electrodes being designed to be liquid-permeable, and the electrolyte flowing through the powder batch perpendicularly to the electrode surfaces, and electrolysis cell suitable therefor, which is essentially characterized in that at least one electrode has a structure which consists of a supporting pierced plate (5), an electrode plate (3) provided with perforations, and a filter cloth (4) arranged between the supporting pierced plate (5) and the electrode plate (3), and in that the cathode (6) is shielded from the cell by means of a liquid-permeable separator (7).

Abstract: This invention discloses and claims the low temperature reduction and purification of refractory metals, metal compounds, and semi-metals. The reduction is accomplished using non-aqueous ionic solvents in an electrochemical cell with the metal entity to be reduced. Using this invention, TiO2 is reduced directly to Ti metal at room temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing a higher purity metal comprising the step of electrolyzing a coarse metal material by a primary electrolysis to obtain a primary electrodeposited metal, the step of electrolyzing the material with the primary electrodeposited metal obtained in the primary electrolysis step used as an anode to obtain a higher purity electrolyte for secondary electrolysis, and the step of further performing secondary electrolysis by employing higher purity electrolytic solution than said electrolytic solution with said primary electrodeposited metal as an anode, whereby providing an electro-refining method that effectively uses electrodes and an electrolyte produced in a plurality of electro-refining steps, reuses the flow of an electrolyte in the system, reduces organic matter-caused oxygen content, and can effectively produce a high purity metal.

Abstract: An autonomous pushed liquid recirculation system (APLRS) is installed in a vessel, such as an electroplating tank. It situates around the interior perimeter and adjusts to changes in the level of liquid, maintaining the same location and orientation respective to the liquid's surface. It establishes a current near the surface that pushes liquid across the narrow horizontal dimension of the tank from a front wall to a rear wall. The current serves to push any bubbles resultant from operations within the tank to the rear wall. Over the rear wall is mounted an abbreviated exhaust hood covering only a short width of the surface of the tank along the rear wall. Because the exhaust system has to scavenge only a portion of the surface since all bubbles now burst along the rear wall, a much smaller air handling apparatus may be specified with an attendant savings in energy costs.

Abstract: Purification of Natrium Sulfat, separation of chrome by the electrocoagulation of Chrome using a bioelectrode cell (AC). The bioelectrode cell is a series of electrodes (Fe--Cr--Fe--Cr), and AC is applied to the first and the last electrodes.

Abstract: The anode comprises a substantially horizontal carrying bar, which is disposed outside the electrolyte and serves to supply electric current. Two substantially parallel metal surfaces (anode grids) are electrically conductively connected to the carrying bar and with at least one-half of their surface extending into the electrolyte. The carrying bar comprises a copper conductor, to which at least one vertical copper rod is joined. There is a direct electrically conducting connection between the copper conductor and the copper rod. The copper rod is surrounded by a titanium sheath and is an interference fit in that sheath. The copper rod provided with the titanium sheath is disposed between the two anode grids and is electrically conductively connected to said grids.