Method and apparatus for producing metal by electrolysis of molton salt

Abstract

A process for production of a metal includes a step of filling a metal chloride in an electrolysis vessel having positive and negative electrodes, a step of heating and fusing the metal chloride to make an electrolytic bath, and a step of electrolyzing the electrolytic bath to deposit metal on the negative electrode in a solid state. In addition, in an apparatus for production of a metal in which a metal chloride is filled in an electrolysis vessel having positive and negative electrodes, the metal chloride is heated and molten to make an electrolytic bath and the electrolytic bath is electrolyzed to deposit the metal on the negative electrode in a solid state, the electrolytic bath is divided into an electrolysis chamber and a dissolution chamber by a dividing wall, the positive electrode is arranged in the electrolysis chamber, the negative electrode is arranged to enable orbital movement in a circle through the electrolysis chamber and dissolution chamber, and the metal deposited on the negative electrode in the electrolysis chamber is separated and recovered in the dissolution chamber.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis, the process comprising:
 a step of filling metal chloride in an electrolysis vessel having a positive electrode and a negative electrode;   a step of heating and fusing the metal chloride to make an electrolytic bath; and   a step of electrolyzing the electrolytic bath to deposit metal on the negative electrode in a solid state.   
   
   
       12 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the temperature of the electrolytic bath used in the molten-salt electrolysis is maintained at not more than the melting point of the metal.   
   
   
       13 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the temperature of the electrolytic bath used in the molten-salt electrolysis is maintained at not less than the melting point of the metal, and at the same time the temperature of the negative electrode is maintained at not more than the melting point of the metal.   
   
   
       14 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the metal in a solid state deposited on the negative electrode is scraped by a mechanical means.   
   
   
       15 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the metal in a solid state deposited on the negative electrode is scraped by a mechanical means.   
   
   
       16 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the metal in a solid state deposited on the negative electrode is scraped by a mechanical means.   
   
   
       17 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the negative electrode on which the metal in a solid state is deposited is immersed in metal chloride filled in a recovery vessel maintained at a temperature not less than the melting point of the metal, so as to recover the metal.   
   
   
       18 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the negative electrode on which the metal in a solid state is deposited is immersed in metal chloride filled in a recovery vessel maintained at a temperature not less than the melting point of the metal, so as to recover the metal.   
   
   
       19 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the negative electrode on which the metal in a solid state is deposited is immersed in metal chloride filled in a recovery vessel maintained at a temperature not less than the melting point of the metal, so as to recover the metal.   
   
   
       20 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the electrolytic bath is divided into an electrolysis chamber and a dissolution chamber by a dividing wall, the positive electrode is arranged in the electrolysis chamber, and the negative electrode is arranged to enable orbital movement in circle through the electrolysis chamber and dissolution chamber,   wherein the temperature of the negative electrode is maintained at a temperature not more than the melting point of the metal when the negative electrode passes through the electrolysis chamber and the temperature of the negative electrode is maintained at a temperature not less than the melting point of the metal when the negative electrode passes through the dissolution chamber.   
   
   
       21 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the negative electrode comprises plural electrodes and the electrodes are arranged on the orbital path.   
   
   
       22 . The process for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the metal chloride is calcium chloride and the metal is calcium metal.   
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for production of a metal by molten-salt electrolysis, in which metal chloride is filled in an electrolysis vessel having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the metal chloride is heated and molten to make an electrolytic bath, and the electrolytic bath is electrolyzed to deposit metal on the negative electrode in a solid state,
 wherein the electrolytic bath is divided into an electrolysis chamber and a dissolution chamber by a dividing wall, the positive electrode is arranged in the electrolysis chamber, the negative electrode is arranged to enable orbital movement in a circle through the electrolysis chamber and dissolution chamber, and   wherein the metal deposited on the negative electrode while the electrode is in the electrolysis chamber is separated and recovered while the electrode is in the dissolution chamber.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus for production of metal by molten-salt electrolysis according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein the negative electrode comprises plural electrodes and the electrodes are arranged on the orbital path.