Growth of research and development in rare metals extraction in India

Sundaram, C.V.; Gupta, Chandni

doi:10.1007/bf02821420

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…[7] However, these processes were limited to the production of relatively small quantities of the metal, due to the problems associated with the electrolysis of refractory metals at temperatures below their melting point. The metal produced under such conditions will be dendritic and the needlelike growth might short the electrodes, requiring frequent cleaning of electrodes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrochemical Deoxidation of Solid Zirconium Dioxide in Molten Calcium Chloride

Mohandas

Fray

2009

Metall Mater Trans B

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The reduction of zirconium dioxide pellets by electro-deoxidation in molten calcium chloridecalcium oxide (900°C) has been studied. In this technique, the solid oxide is cathodically polarized against a graphite counter electrode under a constant applied potential. Unlike other metal oxides that have been reduced by this technique, only a small area around the cathodic current-collector wire was reduced to zirconium metal with zirconia pellets sintered at~1100°C; the rest of the sample was largely calcium zirconate. Pellets sintered above 1200°C showed better reduction near the cathode wire and the reduction extended to the entire surface of the pellet with the passage of time. However, reduction of the inner core was found to be increasingly difficult, because the surface metal layer thickened on continuous electrodeoxidation. An analysis of the experimental results showed that the poor electrical conductivity of the intermediate compound, CaZrO 3 and its blocky morphology inhibited the electrodeoxidation process. The increase in the sintering temperature of the pellet made it better conducting. However, the pores formed in the thick zirconium metal layer in such samples were too small for an ideal contact between the inner core and the molten electrolyte and hence the reduction of the inner core remained incomplete. Within the scope of this study, it is concluded that preforms with good grain growth and porosity are necessary for the electro-deoxidation of solid zirconium oxide.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrochemical Deoxidation of Solid Zirconium Dioxide in Molten Calcium Chloride

Mohandas

Fray

2009

Metall Mater Trans B

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“…Reduction of metal oxides is important in the nuclear technology and many transition metals and actinides are produced by the conventional metallothermic reduction route (Sundaram and Gupta, 1984). Metal oxide reduction is also important in the context of the recycling of spent oxide nuclear fuels.…”

Section: Reduction Of Oxides In the Nuclear Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct electrochemical conversion of metal oxides to metal by molten salt electrolysis: a review

Mohandas

2013

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy

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Little over a decade ago, Professor Derek Fray's group at the University of Cambridge, UK, discovered that a solid metal oxide can be directly reduced to metal by cathodically polarising it in a molten salt electrolytic cell. The simple electrochemical process attracted worldwide attention and significant efforts have been made since then to study and develop the process for production of many metals/alloys from their oxides. The process, with necessary modifications, is being studied and adapted as a head-end step in the pyrochemical reprocessing of spent oxide nuclear fuels. This review discusses the solid-state electro-reduction process, its development and the present status in both public and nuclear domains.

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