In-situ anodic precipitation process for highly efficient separation of aluminum alloys

Abstract

Electrorefining process has been widely used to separate and purify metals, but it is limited by deposition potential of the metal itself. Here we report in-situ anodic precipitation (IAP), a modified electrorefining process, to purify aluminium from contaminants that are more reactive. During IAP, the target metals that are more cathodic than aluminium are oxidized at the anode and forced to precipitate out in a low oxidation state. This strategy is fundamentally based on different solubilities of target metal chlorides in the NaAlCl4 molten salt rather than deposition potential of metals. The results suggest that IAP is able to efficiently and simply separate components of aluminum alloys with fast kinetics and high recovery yields, and it is also a valuable synthetic approach for metal chlorides in low oxidation states.

Integrating the Safety Evaluation for a Molten Salt Reactor Operation and Fuel Cycle Facility Application

“…Nonaqueous organic U chemistry continues to develop rapidly [52]. The efficient transfer of actinides from fluoride salts into an Al alloy, leaving behind the lanthanides and other FPs, was demonstrated under laboratory conditions [53] along with technology to extract the actinides into chlorides from the resultant actinide-Al alloy [54], [55], [56], [57]. Subsequent conversion of the actinide chlorides into fluorides using fluorinated ionic liquids under mild conditions is also in early-phase development [58].…”

Overall Carbon‐neutral Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 in Molten Salts using a Liquid Metal Sn Cathode

“…Industrial aluminium extraction through molten salt electrolysis of alumina to liquid Al cathode at 950 °C is a self‐heating, high‐efficiency, and high‐yield electrochemical process [13, 14] . The utilization of a liquid metal cathode integrates the high surface reactivity and a strong depolarization effect, while also offering an opportunity on trading off carbon footprint from electrochemical reduction of CO 2 against converted CO 2 [15, 16] .…”

Investigation of commercial aluminum alloys as anode materials for alkaline aluminum–air batteries

“…Compared with traditional remelting and hot extrusion methods, this green conversion process may solve the problem that retired Al alloys are difficult to reuse with high quality. 42,43 Therefore, it is attractive and meaningful to employ commercial Al alloys as anode materials. Understanding the self-corrosion behavior and battery performance of these alloy anodes is basic and vital.…”