Clean Metals Production by Solid Oxide Membrane Electrolysis Process

Guan, Xiaofei; Pal, Uday B.; Jiang, Yihong; Su, Shizhao

doi:10.1007/s40831-016-0044-x

Cited by 38 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(87 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Recently, the application of this process for the production of Nd and Dy-Fe for the magnet industry was reported by Guan et.al [42].…”

Section: Technological Implications and Trendsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…control of the materials feeding and dissolution in the electrolyte have been recognized as the best probably way to prevent GHG emissions for the existing RE production technologies. On the other side, the development and use of new technologies, such as Liquide State Cathode Electrolysis (LSCE) and Solid Oxide Membrane Electrolysis (SOM), represents alternatives for more efficient production and mitigation of GWP in the RE metals industry [42].…”

Section: Technological Implications and Trendsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Rare Earth Electrolysis: key issues for measurement of greenhouse gases from oxide-fluoride systems

Fukurozaki¹,

Landgraf²

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the past decade, the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) has been recognized as one of the key factors for sustainable primary metal production, in which the rare earth (RE) industry can be affected both in terms of price and use by GHG reduction policies and nontariff technical barriers. From environmental and economic standpoint, the perfluorocarbons (PFC) emissions generated in RE electrolysis during events known as anode effects (AE) are strong infrared-absorbing GHG and play an important role for RE metals process improvements. However, there is no standard methodology to account these GHG emissions from RE metal production industry and the assessment of the contribution of PFC emissions from different technologies to the global warming is urgently needed. This paper focuses on the analysis of PFC measurements from RE metal production in terms of GHG inventory and sustainable production. The state of art of RE fused oxide-fluoride electrolysis, particularly of neodymium electrolysis, provides the technical fundamentals for the evaluation of PFC emissions factors reported in scientific articles. Based on International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) standard methods and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Aluminium Institute (IAI) protocol applied to analogous industrial process, the analysis of key issues for estimate CF4 and C2F6 emission factors from electrolytic RE production indicates the additional refinements are necessary to optimize the accuracy of total PFC emission amount from each currently RE technology. Additionally, the selection of emission estimation technique (EET) or mix EET should be considered on case-by-case basis as to their purposes and suitability for a particular process and facility. Finally, this paper highlights the technological implications related to the PFC emissions measurements and trends towards to set goals and develop strategies for GHG mitigation.

show abstract

“…Recently, the application of this process for the production of Nd and Dy-Fe for the magnet industry was reported by Guan et.al [42].…”

Section: Technological Implications and Trendsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Technological Implications and Trendsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare Earth Electrolysis: key issues for measurement of greenhouse gases from oxide-fluoride systems

Fukurozaki¹,

Landgraf²

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The SOM process, developed in the USA, uses a membrane that conducts oxygen ions as part of the anode and does not produce PFC. Recently, the application of this process for the production of Nd and Dy-Fe for the magnet industry was reported by Guan et.al [40].…”

Section: √ ( ) ( ) ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…control of the materials feeding and dissolution in the electrolyte have been recognized as the best probably way to prevent GHG emissions for the existing RE production technologies. On the other side, the development and use of new technologies, such as Liquide State Cathode Electrolysis (LSCE) and Solid Oxide Membrane Electrolysis (SOM), represents alternatives for more e cient production and mitigation of GWP in the RE metals industry [40].…”

Section: √ ( ) ( ) ( )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare Earth Electrolysis: key issues for measurement of greenhouse gases from oxide-fluoride systems

Fukurozaki¹,

Landgraf

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the past decade, the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) has been recognized as one of the key factors for sustainable primary metal production, in which the rare earth (RE) industry can be affected both in terms of price and use by GHG reduction policies and non-tariff technical barriers. From environmental and economic standpoint, the perfluorocarbons (PFC) emissions generated in RE electrolysis during events known as anode effects (AE) are strong infrared-absorbing GHG and play an important role for RE metals process improvements. However, there is no standard methodology to account these GHG emissions from RE metal production industry and the assessment of the contribution of PFC emissions from different technologies to the global warming is urgently needed. This paper focuses on the analysis of PFC measurements from RE metal production in terms of GHG inventory and sustainable production. The state of art of RE fused oxide-fluoride electrolysis, particularly of neodymium electrolysis, provides the technical fundamentals for the evaluation of PFC emissions factors reported in scientific articles. Based on International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) standard methods and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Aluminium Institute (IAI) protocol applied to analogous industrial process, the analysis of key issues for estimate CF4 and C2F6 emission factors from electrolytic RE production indicates the additional refinements are necessary to optimize the accuracy of total PFC emission amount from each currently RE technology. Additionally, the selection of emission estimation technique (EET) or mix EET should be considered on case-by-case basis as to their purposes and suitability for a particular process and facility. Finally, this paper highlights the technological implications related to the PFC emissions measurements and trends towards to set goals and develop strategies for GHG mitigation.

show abstract

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] The SOM electrolysis process features the utilization of an oxygen-ion-conducting membrane, typically made of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), for directly electrolyzing metal oxides dissolved in a pre-selected non-consumable molten flux. An LSM (La 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3-δ )-Inconel inert anode current collector and liquid silver anode have been used in SOM electrolysis process for oxygen evolution.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Solid Oxide Membrane Electrolysis Process for Aluminum Production: Experiment and Modeling

Pal

Guan

2017

J. Electrochem. Soc.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper reports a solid oxide membrane (SOM) electrolysis process using an LSM (La 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3-δ )-Inconel inert anode current collector and liquid silver anode for production of aluminum and oxygen from aluminum oxide dissolved in a pre-selected molten oxy-fluoride flux containing Ca, Mg, Al and Y at 1473K (1200 • C). The electrochemical behavior of the SOM cell was characterized by various electrochemical techniques including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic scan and potentiostatic electrolysis. Based on the electrochemical measurement results, an equivalent circuit model of the SOM electrolysis process is presented. A polarization model for aluminum and oxygen production was developed and the polarization losses in the cell were analyzed according to the equivalent circuit. Based on the polarization model analysis, potential approaches to improve the cell performance are also discussed. The aluminum produced and the yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) membrane were characterized with scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy after the electrolysis. Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust, and the most abundant metallic element. It is an essential material in modern manufacturing. It is known for its low density, high strength, corrosion resistance, good recyclability and high electrical and thermal conductivities. Aluminum is also often alloyed with other elements such as magnesium, silicon, tin and zinc in order to improve its properties. Aluminum and its alloys have a wide range of applications making them the second most used industrial metal for the past fifty years. Global aluminum production has been growing at a rate of 5% annually for the past five years.1 Demand for aluminum will continue to grow, mainly due to its increasing use in the transportation sector as a light-weight structural material.The aluminum smelting process was invented in 1886 by Charles Martin Hall and Paul L.T. Héroult (i.e. the Hall-Héroult process). It involves electrolysis of cryolite-alumina melt and even to this day the process used has fundamentally remained the same. The average energy intensity of the process is 14.29 kWh/(kg Al), 2 while its theoretical minimum energy requirement is 5.99 kWh/(kg Al).3 The process is energy-intensive and has low energy efficiency. The use of graphite anode, the electricity input, and the anode effect of the process result in an average of 6.9 kg of equivalent CO 2 emission per kg of Al produced.3 The market potential of aluminum and the environmental impact of the current aluminum production process justify research and development of alternative electrolytic processes for aluminum production that can both reduce the cost and eliminate adverse environmental impacts.Solid oxide membrane (SOM) electrolysis is a novel metals extraction technique that is being developed for the production of several energy-intensive metals, semiconductors or alloys, such as Mg, Ti, Ta, Yb, Si, CeNi 5 and Ti-Fe alloy. [4][5][6][7]...

show abstract

Clean Metals Production by Solid Oxide Membrane Electrolysis Process

Cited by 38 publications

References 48 publications

Rare Earth Electrolysis: key issues for measurement of greenhouse gases from oxide-fluoride systems

Rare Earth Electrolysis: key issues for measurement of greenhouse gases from oxide-fluoride systems

Rare Earth Electrolysis: key issues for measurement of greenhouse gases from oxide-fluoride systems

Solid Oxide Membrane Electrolysis Process for Aluminum Production: Experiment and Modeling

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About