Molten salt electrolytic cell and related systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to molten salt electrolytic cells and related systems and methods.

1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A system for metal extraction, comprising:
 a container;   an electrolyte within the container;   an anode at least partially within the container;   a cathode at least partially within the container;   a collection vessel within the container, the collection vessel having an internal surface that faces the cathode; and   an extractor at least partially within the container,   wherein the extractor is not between the anode and the cathode.   
     
     
         4 . A system for metal extraction, comprising:
 a container;   an electrolyte within the container;   an anode at least partially within the container;   a cathode at least partially within the container;   a collection vessel within the container, the collection vessel having an internal surface that faces the cathode; and   an extractor at least partially within the container,   wherein the extractor extends into the container through a top of the container.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is configured such that, when the system is electrolytically extracting metal, within 10 seconds of inserting the extractor into the electrolyte within the container, the maximum current passed between the anode and the cathode is less than or equal to 175% of current passed between the anode and the cathode immediately prior to inserting the extractor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is configured such that, when the system is electrolytically extracting metal, within 10 seconds of inserting the extractor into the electrolyte within the container, the maximum current passed between the anode and the cathode is less than or equal to 150% of current passed between the anode and the cathode immediately prior to inserting the extractor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is configured such that, when the system is electrolytically extracting metal, within 10 seconds of inserting the extractor into the electrolyte within the container, the maximum current passed between the anode and the cathode is less than or equal to 125% of current passed between the anode and the cathode immediately prior to inserting the extractor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system comprises an electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the extractor is configured to remove at least a portion of molten metal formed in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the collection vessel is positioned under the cathode and configured to collect molten metal formed on the cathode. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the extractor comprises a ladle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a molten salt. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is configured to extract a metal from a metal containing material. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the metal comprises a rare earth metal and/or an alkali metal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the metal containing material comprises an anion comprising at least one halogen, oxygen, and/or sulfur. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is configured such that, when the system is electrolytically extracting metal and the extractor is being used to remove metal, the extractor corrodes at a rate of less than or equal to 3 g of the extractor per mAh of charge passed through the system, and electrodeposition of material on the extractor proceeds at a rate of less than or equal to 3 g of the material per mAh of charge passed through the system. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is configured such that, when the system is electrolytically extracting metal, within 10 seconds of inserting the extractor into the electrolyte within the container, a maximum current passed between the anode and the cathode is less than or equal to 200% of current passed between the anode and the cathode immediately prior to inserting the extractor. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the extractor extends into the container through a top of the container. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein, when the extractor is being used to remove metal when the system is electrolytically extracting metal, the metal that is being extracted is electrodeposited onto the extractor at a rate of less than or equal to 3 g of the metal onto the extractor per mAh of charge passed through the system. 
     
     
         21 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method, comprising:
 removing molten metal that is the product of an electrolytic reaction of an electrolytic cell from the top of the electrolytic cell while simultaneously electrolytically extracting a molten metal from a metal-containing material within the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte.   
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the molten metal is removed without having to remove the cathode and/or disassemble the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         39 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the molten metal is collected by a collection vessel, wherein removing the molten metal comprises collecting the molten metal using an extractor, and wherein using the extractor comprises inserting the extractor through an opening on a top of the electrolytic cell into the collection vessel, collecting the molten metal from the collection vessel in the extractor, and removing the extractor containing the molten metal from the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         43 - 64 . (canceled)