Rare metals preparation by electro-reduction of solid compounds in high-temperature molten salts

• Published in: Rare metals 2016-08, Vol.35 (8), p.581-590
• Main Authors: Xiao, Wei, Wang, Di-Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aqueous solutions; Basic refractories; Biomaterials; Carbon; Carbothermic reactions; Chemistry and Materials Science; Clean energy; Controllability; Economics; Electricity; Electrolytes; Energy; Energy management; Extractive metallurgy; Fused salts; Gallium; Germanium; Hafnium; High temperature; Hydrometallurgy; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Metal oxides; Metallic Materials; Metals; Methods; Microstructure; Molten salts; Molybdenum; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Physical Chemistry; Reduction (electrolytic); Refractory metals; Temperature; Wind power; 固体化合物; 微观结构; 稀有金属; 经济竞争力; 能源效率; 还原制备; 金属提取; 高温熔盐
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185
• DOI: 10.1007/s12598-016-0778-4

Direct electro-reduction of solid compounds in molten salts is a simple and straightforward electrolytic metallurgical method, which outperforms traditional pyrometallurgical methods such as carbothermic and met- allothermic reductions in terms of economic viability, energy efficiency and carbon footprint. To better highlight the features of the direct electro-reduction of solid com- pounds in molten salts in extraction of rare metals, the scope of this paper is focused on the know-how of the cathodic process of the direct electro-reduction of solid compounds in molten salts in extraction of rare refractory metals including Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo and W, and rare disperse metals including Ga and Ge. In line with an introduction of the basic concept of the method, the char- acteristics of reaction paths in different systems are sum- marized and the corresponding strategy on tailoring energy efficiency and microstructure of electrolytic products are rationalized. The economic competence of the method might be enhanced by extending the method to controllable production of rare metals with high added values, well- defined microstructure and intriguing functionality.