Aluminum Electrolysis with Multiple Vertical Non-consumable Electrodes in a Low Temperature Electrolyte

Abstract

In this paper we describe recent laboratory aluminum electrolysis tests with multiple vertical non-consumable electrodes in a low temperature electrolyte. The anodes were cast Cu/Ni/Fe alloys and the cathodes hot pressed low grain size titanium diboride (TiB2). Electrolysis tests were carried out in a low temperature electrolyte at a current density ranging from 0.5 to 1 A/cm2. The experiments were run with three vertical electrodes, with two cathodes and one anode, with the anode placed in the middle. The oxide coating formed on the anode was studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impurities of the aluminum obtained were analyzed. The results of chemical analysis show that impurities from the anode were less than 0.2 wt% in the aluminum obtained, the major impurity being iron, about 0.1 wt%.