Abstract: System for, and methods of, recovering precious metals from precious metals-containing solids are described herein. Methods for the recovery of precious metals from precious metals-containing solids heating a salt mixture to form a molten salt mixture, adding a precious metals-containing solid to the molten salt mixture to form a molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, adding an oxidizing agent to the molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, forming a liquid solution from molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, the liquid solution comprising soluble precious metal salts, and subjecting the liquid solution to an electrodeposition process to form purified precious metals. Systems for, and methods of, recovery precious metals from precious metals-containing solids allow for the recovery of salt mixtures and reuse of the salt mixtures in subsequent precious metals recovery operations.

Abstract: A reference electrode which is stable over a wide range of temperatures, pressures and chemical conditions is provided. The subject reference electrode according to the present invention comprises a tubular enclosure composed of quartz having a distal, closed end and a proximal, open end. An insulating ceramic rod is seemingly connected to the opening in the closed distal end of the enclosure to form micro-cracks between the ceramic rod and the quartz enclosure (called a cracked junction, CJ). The CJ gives a very tortuous path for ion conduction from inside the reference electrode (RE) to a working electrode (WE). Inside the tubular enclosure is an electrical lead (e.g., a silver wire) disposed in an electrolyte comprising a mixture of alkaline metal salts (e.g., AgCl and KCl), extending from the electrolyte upward through a sealing means at the proximal end of the quartz enclosure.

Abstract: A reference electrode which is stable over a wide range of temperatures, pressures and chemical conditions is provided. The subject reference electrode according to the present invention comprises a tubular enclosure composed of quartz having a distal, closed end and a proximal, open end. An insulating ceramic rod is seemingly connected to the opening in the closed distal end of the enclosure to form micro-cracks between the ceramic rod and the quartz enclosure (called a cracked junction, CJ). The CJ gives a very tortuous path for ion conduction from inside the reference electrode (RE) to a working electrode (WE). Inside the tubular enclosure is an electrical lead (e.g., a silver wire) disposed in an electrolyte comprising a mixture of alkaline metal salts (e.g., AgCl and KCl), extending from the electrolyte upward through a sealing means at the proximal end of the quartz enclosure.

Abstract: Reference electrodes include a hollow cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrically conductive metal wire partially coated with a metal salt, the wire extending through the proximal end of the cylindrical body and terminating near the distal end of the cylindrical body; an ionic liquid contained within a portion of the cylindrical body, the coated portion of the wire being submerged in the ionic liquid; an air-tight seal on the proximal end of the cylindrical body, the uncoated portion of the wire extending through the air-tight seal; and a ceramic rod discontinuously fused with an inner surface of the cylindrical body at a portion of the distal end. An electrochemical sensor for measuring the corrosion rate of a metal or alloy, at temperatures of about ?100° C. to about 200° C., has an electrochemical cell in a test loop and includes an ionic liquid-containing reference electrode.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of electrochemically calculating the corrosion rate of a metal. The method includes electrically connecting a reference electrode to an electrometer, electrically connecting a working electrode formed of a sample metal to the electrometer, electrically connecting a counter electrode to the working electrode, submerging the reference electrode, the working electrode and the counter electrode in a molten salt at a temperature of at least 100° C. and as high as 900° C. and generating current by scanning a working electrode potential to generate a polarization curve from which the corrosion rate may be calculated.