Novel extraction of Zr based on an in-situ preparation of ZrC O

Abstract

• The pure Zr powder could be obtained by electrolysis ZrC x O y which was prepared by in-situ electro-deoxidation of ZrO 2 -C precursors in CaCl 2 at 1123K. • Expounding the electroreduction mechanism of ZrO 2 -C composite cathode in melting CaCl 2 , through analyzing of different electrolytic durations cathode sample, respectively. • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was carried out to investigate electrochemical conductivity for ZrC x O y in various potentials, and indicated that ZrC x O y had better conductivity. • The electrochemical behavior of ZrC x O y was discussed through Cyclic Voltammetry, Square Wave Voltammetry. A novel way was proposed in this work for zirconium extraction through ZrO 2 . It was accomplished that pure Zr powder could be obtained by electrolysis Zr oxycarbide, which was prepared by in-situ electro-deoxidation of solid zirconium dioxide-carbon precursors in molten chloride at 1123 K. In order to explore the feasibility and mechanism of this process, the parameters of Zr oxycarbide in-situ synthesis was based on systematically analysis the intermediate products by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). And the electrochemical behavior and properties of Zr oxycarbide was also discussed through Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). It was revealed that the obtained ZrC x O y by in-situ synthesis has good conductivity and can be direct dissolved as an anode in molten salt. In the following electrolysis, the dissolved Zr ions diffused into molten salt and was reduced into metallic Zr.