Abstract:
A method for producing Ti or a Ti alloy using the reduction by Ca, which comprises a reduction step of holding a molten salt containing CaCl2 and having Ca dissolved therein in a reaction vessel (1) and reacting Ca in the molten salt with a metal chloride containing TiCl4, to generate Ti particles or Ti alloy particles in the molten salt, and a separation step (7) of separating Ti particles or Ti alloy particles being formed in the molten salt from the molten salt. It is preferred to further add an electrolysis step (8) of electrolyzing the CaCl2 withdrawn out of the reaction vessel (1) into Ca and Cl2 and using the formed Ca for the reaction in the reaction vessel (1) for forming Ti or a Ti alloy. In the electrolysis step (8), the use of an alloy electrode comprising a molten Ca alloy as a cathode is effective for the improvement of electric current efficiency and the molten Ca alloy can also be utilized effectively as a medium for transporting Ca in order to enhance a Ca concentration. The above method allows the production of a metallic Ti having high purity with good efficiency at a low cost.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for producing a metal by molten salt electrolysis wherein metal production is performed while filling an electrolysis vessel having an anode and a cathode with a molten salt containing a metal chloride. This method is characterized by using such a molten salt which decreases the solubility of the metal in the molten salt.
Abstract:
A method for producing Ti or a Ti alloy through the reduction of TiCl4 by Ca, which comprises holding a molten salt containing CaCl2 and having Ca dissolved therein in a reaction vessel and reacting Ca in the molten salt with a metal chloride containing TiCl4, to generate Ti particles or Ti alloy particles in the molten CaCl2. The above method allows the enhancement of the feed rate of TiCl4, which is the raw material of Ti, and also allows the continuous operation of the production, and thereby the production of a metallic Ti or a Ti alloy having high purity with good efficiency at a low cost can be attained. Further, the method eliminates the need for the replenishment of expensive metallic Ca and for the operation for separately handling Ca which is highly reactive and difficult to handle.
Abstract:
A method for producing a metal by an electrolysis method, characterized in that a porous ceramic article comprising yttria is used as a diaphragm. It is preferred that use is made of a diaphragm comprising a porous ceramic article having a purity of yttria of 90 mass % or higher (more preferably, 99 % or higher), a porosity of 1 % or more and a pore diameter of 20 µm or less, and having a thickness of 0.05 to 50 mm and that use is made of a halide of a metal as an electrolytic bath. Since calcium formed by electrolysis cannot pass through the above diaphragm, the back reaction can be effectively inhibited. The above method can be suitably utilized, in particular, for producing a metal such as calcium or a rare earth element. For example, when the method is applied to the production of calcium, metallic calcium can be produced without the need for enormous heat energy, with ease, at a low cost.
Abstract:
A metal producing method by molten salt electrolysis carried out with calcium chloride molten salt filled in an electrolytic bath provided with an anode and a cathode, characterized in that either one electrode of the anode and the cathode is provided so as to surround the other electrode, the cathode is provided with at least one communication port to allow communication between an inner area surrounded by the cathode and an outer area, and molten salt is allowed to flow from one area, out of the inner area and the outer area, on the anode-provided side to the other area via the communication port.
Abstract:
A mixed molten salt containing CaCl2 and NaCl is held in reaction vessel (1) at 600°C or below. Not only Na but also TiCl4 as a raw material for Ti is introduced in the reaction vessel (1). Na having been introduced in the reaction vessel (1) replaces Ca to thereby cause Ca to be dissolved in the molten salt, so that the TiCl4 introduced in the molten salt is reduced. Thus, Ti particles are formed. The formed Ti particles together with the molten salt are transferred to separation tank (2) wherein the Ti particles and Na are separated from the molten salt. The remaining molten salt is transferred to electrolyzer tank (3), and high-temperature electrolysis is carried out at over 600°C to thereby form Na. The formed Na is recycled to the reaction vessel (1) and compensates for the Na consumed in the reaction vessel (1). Production of Ti and a Ti alloy through Ca reduction can be performed in an economical manner by circulatory use of Na whose handling is easy while avoiding direct use of highly reactive Ca.