The invention relates to an electrode material, preferably an inert anode material comprising at least a metal core and a cermet material, characterized in that: said metal core contains at least one nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe) alloy, said cermet material comprises at least as percentages by weight: 45 to 80% of a nickel ferrite oxide phase (2) of composition Ni.sub.xFe.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.4 with 0.60 ≤x≤0.90; 1.90≤y≤2.40; 0.00≤z≤0.20 and M being a metal selected from aluminum (Al), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), tin (Sn), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta) and hafnium (Hf) or being a combination of these metals, 15 to 45% of a metallic phase (1) comprising at least one alloy of nickel and copper.

There is provided a method of electrochemically reducing multiple metal oxide pellets simultaneously, the method comprising: contacting an anode and a cathode with multiple metal oxide pellets with an electrolyte, wherein the multiple metal oxide pellets are secured to the cathode; and applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode to reduce multiple metal oxides comprised in the multiple metal oxide pellets to its respective metals. There is also provided an electrochemical cell for electrochemically reducing multiple metal oxide pellets simultaneously.

A cathode assembly for an electrolytic cell including a cathode block having a second surface and a first surface. The cathode block also including at least one sealing groove opening onto its first surface and a plurality of electrical contact plugs mounted in electrical contact with the first surface of the cathode block. The cathode assembly includes at least one current supply plate in electrical contact with at least one electrical contact plug, and is connected to at least one unit for connection to an electric current source. The cathode assembly includes at least one current supply bar having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially identical to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the current supply plate and is sealed within the at least one sealing groove while being fastened to at least one current supply plate.

The present invention belongs to the field of titanium metallurgy, and particularly relates to a method for preparing a titanium-aluminum alloy. The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a titanium-aluminum alloy, including the following steps: a. adding TiCl.sub.4 and AlCl.sub.3 to a molten electrolyte in a protective atmosphere, wherein the molten electrolyte is a mixture of at least one of alkali metal chloride or alkaline earth metal chloride and alkali metal fluoride; b. electrolyzing the mixture obtained in step a; and c. obtaining a titanium-aluminum alloy through vacuum distillation of a cathode product after electrolysis. The method of the present invention can shorten the preparation process of a titanium-aluminum alloy and reduce the manufacturing cost thereof, which is of great significance to the development of titanium alloy in practice.

A method and means for application of anode covering material (ACM) in an electrolysis cell for aluminium production where the cell being of Hall-Héroult type with prebaked anodes. The cell contains a cathode pot with a rectangular footprint and a superstructure with a gas collecting hood that lays onto the top of the cathode pot. A floor construction at least substantially surrounds the cell at a level below the top of the cathode pot and ventilation openings provided with grates are arranged in the floor in the close vicinity to the cell. The superstructure's hood is provided with removable lids that are removed for giving access to the cell's anodes through openings. ACM is applied via a feed tube to cover the anodes and the deposit of ACM is supported by a shuttering.

A method of direct oxide reduction includes forming a molten salt electrolyte in an electrochemical cell, disposing at least one metal oxide in the electrochemical cell, disposing a counter electrode comprising a material selected from the group consisting of osmium, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, lithium iridate, lithium ruthenate, a lithium rhodate, a lithium tin oxygen compound, a lithium manganese compound, strontium ruthenium ternary compounds, calcium iridate, strontium iridate, calcium platinate, strontium platinate, magnesium ruthenate, magnesium iridate, sodium ruthenate, sodium iridate, potassium iridate, and potassium ruthenate in the electrochemical cell, and applying a current between the counter electrode and the at least one metal oxide to reduce the at least one metal oxide. Related methods of direct oxide reduction and related electrochemical cells are also disclosed.

A process for production of metal(s) by molten-salt electrolysis includes direct non-carbothermic chlorinating of ore containing metal oxide(s) to produce metal chloride(s); and electrolysis of molten salt(s) of the metal chloride(s) for electrowinning of metal(s) product.

A device and method for preparing high-purity titanium powder by continuous electrolysis are provided. The method includes: electrolyzing a titanium-containing conductive ceramic anode and a rotatable cathode in a fused salt electrolytic tank; continuously transferring titanium powder deposited on a surface of the cathode by the rotatable cathode to a position above the fused salt; scraping the titanium powder by a discharging scraper, and collecting; filtering the titanium powder, and recovering the fused salt; cooling separated titanium powder, washing with deoxygenated and deionized water, and vacuum-drying to obtain final titanium powder. The device includes a fused salt electrolysis mechanism, a continuous titanium powder collection mechanism, a filtering mechanism, a washing mechanism, and a vacuum-drying mechanism.

An environmentally friendly (e.g. no acid, base, or cyanide) system and process for large scale extraction of metal ion into aerobic molten salt (or ionic liquid) and the electrodeposition of metal (e.g. copper, gold, silver, etc.) from the metal ion dissolved in the molten salt. The non-volatile low vapor pressure liquid salt is reusable, and heat from the molten slag can heat the molten salts or ionic liquids. Another embodiment comprises a one-pot apparatus for the extraction of metal (e.g. copper) from metal earths and electrodepositing the metal using a low melting (209° C.) aerated Na—K—Zn chloride salt in which copper metal oxidizes and is converted to soluble copper chloride. When an electrical power supply is connected to the graphite vessel (cathode) and to copper rods in the melt (anodes), then the copper chloride is deposited as copper metal by electroreduction on the bottom of the graphite reaction vessel.

An electrolytic smelting system includes: an electrolytic smelting furnace including a furnace body to which a molten ore is introduced, a cathode substrate which is installed on a bottom portion in the furnace body, and an anode substrate which is positioned above the cathode substrate in the furnace body; an inert gas circulation unit including a circulation line to recover an inert gas supplied into the electrolytic smelting furnace together with oxygen and supply the inert gas to the molten ore; and an oxygen-removing unit which is installed in the circulation line and which removes oxygen from the circulation line.