US4187155A
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Molten salt electrolysis
Assignee: Diamond Shamrock Technologies SA
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Filing: 1978-09-07
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Granted: 1980-02-05
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Expires: 1998-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A novel method of molten salt electrolysis and novel electrolytic cells for molten salt electrolysis wherein the anodes for the electrolysis are comprised of a self-sustaining matrix of sintered powders of at least one oxycompound such as oxides, multipleoxides, mixed oxides, oxyhalides and oxycarbides, of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, terbium, erbium, ytterbium, thorium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium and tantalum and at least one electroconductive agent, the said anode being provided over at least a portion of its surface with at least one electrocatalyst for the electrolysis reaction and bipolar electrodes for the said cells which electrodes are resistant to corrosion in molten salt electrolysis and have good electroconductive and good electrocatalytic activity.
Inventors
- 👤 Vittorio De Nora
- 👤 Placido M. Spaziante
- 👤 Antonio Nidola
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:08
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C7/00; C25C7/02; C25C7/025; C25C3/00; C25C3/06; C25C3/08; C25C3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
In a method of molten salt electrolysis between an anode and a cathode wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of metal halides and cryolite, the improvement comprising using as the anode and electrode comprised of a self-sustaining matrix of sintered powders of at least one oxycompound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, terbium, erbium, ytterbium, thorium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, niobium and tantalum and at least one electroconductive agent, the said anode being provided over at least a portion of its surface with at least one electrocatalyst.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a method of molten salt electrolysis between an anode and a cathode wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of metal halides and cryolite, the improvement comprising using as the anode and electrode comprised of a self-sustaining matrix of sintered powders of at least one oxycompound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, terbium, erbium, ytterbium, thorium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, niobium and tantalum and at least one electroconductive agent, the said anode being provided over at least a portion of its surface with at least one electrocatalyst.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electroconductive agent is a minor portion of the sintered electrode body and is an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium and tin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electroconductive agent is a minor portion of the sintered electrode body and is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, chromium, molybdenum, zirconium, tantalum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, palladium and silver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electrocatalyst is at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxides of cobalt, nickel, manganese, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and silver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electrocatalyst is formed in situ on said sintered electrode body from a solution of salts of said metals which are converted to oxides on said sintered electrode body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 in which the electrocatalyst is comprised of powdered oxides of said metals sintered into the outer layers of said electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the molten metal salt is a metal chloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal salt is aluminum chloride, and gaseous chlorine is evolved at the anode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal salt is fluoride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the metal salt is cryolite containing molten alumina.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
In an electrolytic cell for molten salt electrolysis comprising at least one anode and one cathode and means for imposing a direct current between the anode and cathode, the improvement wherein the anode is an electrode comprised of a self-sustaining matrix of sintered powders of at least one oxycompound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, terbium, erbium, ytterbium, thorium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, niobium and tantalum and at least one electroconductive agent the said anode being provided over at least a portion of its surface with at least one electrocatalyst and said cathode having over at least a portion of its cathodic surface a layer of cathodic material selected from the group consisting of metal carbides, borides, nitrides, sulfides and carbonitrides and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
In an electrolytic cell for molten salt electrolysis comprising at least one anode and one cathode and means for imposing a direct current between the anode and cathode, the improvement wherein the anode is an electrode comprised of a self-sustaining matrix of sintered powders of at least one oxycompound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, terbium, erbium, ytterbium, thorium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, niobium and tantalum and at least one electroconductive agent the said anode being provided over at least a portion of its surface with at least one electrocatalyst and said cathode having over at least a portion of its cathodic surface a layer of cathodic material selected from the group consisting of metal carbides, borides, nitrides, sulfides and carbonitrides and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cell of claim 11 wherein the electroconductive agent is a minor portion of the sintered electrode body and is an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium and tin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cell of claim 11 wherein the electroconductive agent is a minor portion of the sintered electrode body and is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, chromium, molybdenum, zirconium, tantalum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, palladium and silver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cell of claim 11 wherein the electrocatalyst is at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxides of cobalt, nickel, manganese, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and silver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cell of claim 14 wherein the electrocatalyst is formed in situ on said sintered electrode body from a solution of salts of said metals which are converted to oxides on said sintered electrode body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cell of claim 14 in which the electrocatalyst is comprised of powdered oxides of said metals sintered into the outer layers of said electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
The cell of claim 11 containing at least one bipolar electrode comprising a self-sustaining body of sintered powders of at least one oxycompound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, terbium, erbium, ytterbium, thorium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, niobium and tantalum and at least one electroconductive agent, said electrode being provided over at least a portion of its anodic surface with at least one anodic electrocatalyst and over at least a portion of its cathodic surface with a layer of cathodic material selected from the group consisting of metal carbides, borides, nitrides, sulfides and carbonitrides and mixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cell of claim 17 wherein the electroconductive agent is a minor portion of the sintered electrode body and is an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium and tin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cell of claim 17 wherein the electroconductive agent is a minor portion of the sintered electrode body and is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, chromium, molybdenum, zirconium, tantalum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, palladium and silver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cell of claim 17 wherein the electrocatalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of cobalt, nickel, manganese, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, silver and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cell of claim 17 wherein the electrocatalyst is formed in situ on said sintered electrode body from a solution of salts of said metals which are converted to oxides on said sintered electrode body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cell of claim 17 in which the electrocatalyst is comprised of powdered oxides of said metals sintered into the outer layers of said electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cell of claim 17 wherein the layer of the said cathodic material is applied by flame spraying.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cell of claim 17 wherein the layer of the said cathodic material comprises powders of said cathodic material sintered into the outer cathodic surfaces of said electrode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cell of claim 17 wherein the cathodic material is selected from the group comprising carbides, borides, nitrides, sulfides and carbonitrides of at least one metal selected from the group comprising yttrium, titanium and zirconium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-02-04 | 1983-08-06 | 1984-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-04 | 1987-08-06 | 1988-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-04 | 1991-08-06 | 1992-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |