The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 01, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 02, 2002
Derek John Fray, Cambridge, GB;
Robert Charles Copcutt, Cambridge, GB;
Derek John Fray, Cambridge, GB;
Robert Charles Copcutt, Cambridge, GB;
Metalysis Limited, , GB;
Abstract
The subject invention pertains to methods for processing a solid material (MX) comprising a solid solution of a non-metal species (X) in a metal or semi-metal (M) or a compound between the non-metal species and the metal or semi-metal is immersed in a molten salt (MY). A cathodic potential is applied to the material to remove a portion of the non-metal species by electro-deoxidation. To remove the non-metal species at lower concentrations, a source of a reactive metal (M) is immersed in the molten salt and is electronically connected to the material. Reactions occur at the material, where the non-metal species dissolves in the salt, and at the reactive metal, which reacts with the non-metal species dissolved in the salt to form a reaction product more stable than a compound between the non-metal species and the metal or semi-metal (M). The non-metal species is thus removed from the solid material.