Metalysis Limited

Power Resources Group Ltd

Allen Richard Wright

Peter G Dudley

Stephen Holloway

In a method for removing a substance from a feedstock comprising a solid metal or a solid metal compound, the feedstock is contacted with a fused-salt melt. The fused-salt melt contains a fused salt, a reactive-metal compound, and a reactive metal. The fused salt comprises an anion species which is different from the substance, the reactive-metal compound comprises the reactive metal and the substance, and the reactive metal is capable of reaction to remove at least some of the substance from the feedstock. A cathode and an anode contact the melt, and the feedstock contacts the cathode. An electrical current is applied between the cathode and the anode such that at least a portion of the substance is removed from the feedstock. During the application of the current, a quantity of the reactive metal in the melt is maintained sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species of the fused salt at the anode. The method may advantageously be usable for removing the substance from successive batches of the feedstock, where the applied current is controlled such that the fused-salt melt after processing a batch contains the quantity of the reactive metal sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species at the anode.

Electrolytic method, apparatus and product

The method, apparatus and product relate to the electrochemical reduction of a solid feedstock () to produce a product. A container () is filled with a fused salt (), and one or more anodes () contact the fused salt. A cathode () is loaded with feedstock and engages with a transport apparatus () which locates and moves the cathode past the anodes(s), while the cathode and the feedstock contact the fused salt. As the cathode moves past the anodes(s), a voltage applied between the cathode and the anode(s) electrochemically reduces the solid feedstock to form the product.

Method and apparatus for electrochemical reduction of a solid feedstock

A removable electrode module for engagement with an electrolysis chamber comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a suspension structure. The suspension structure comprises a suspension rod coupled to the first electrode. The second electrode is suspended or supported by the suspension structure, which comprises at least one electrically-insulating spacer element for retaining the second electrode in spatial separation from the first electrode.

Electrolysis apparatus

In a method for reduction of a solid feedstock, such as a solid metal compound, in an electrolytic apparatus a portion of the feedstock is arranged in each of two or more electrolytic cells (). A molten salt is provided as an electrolyte in each cell. The molten salt is circulated from a molten salt reservoir () such that salt flows through each of the cells. Feedstock is reduced in each cell by applying a potential across electrodes in each cell, the potential being sufficient to cause reduction of the feedstock. The invention also provides an apparatus for implementing the method.

Apparatus and method for reduction of a solid feedstock

In a method for reducing a solid feedstock (), such as a solid metal compound, feedstock is arranged on upper surfaces of elements () in a bipolar cell stack contained within a housing (). A molten salt electrolyte is circulated through the housing so that it contacts the elements of the bipolar stack and the feedstock. A potential is applied to terminal electrodes () of the bipolar stack such that the upper surfaces of the elements become cathodic and the lower surfaces of the elements become anodic. The applied potential is sufficient to cause reduction of the feedstock. The invention also provides an apparatus for implementing the method.

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Gunnerton, United Kingdom

Allen Richard Wright