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.

In a system and method for producing submicron sized particles from a substance, the system may comprise a constant current power supply, a furnace for vaporizing the substance having a chamber for containing the substance, and a condensation unit for rapid cooling of the vaporized substance. The furnace may comprise an insulating outer section, a chamber wall, and two electrodes.

Some embodiments include a molten salt system comprising: a molten salt enclosure; a molten salt disposed within the molten salt enclosure; a working electrode disposed at least partially within the molten salt; a counter electrode disposed at least partially within the molten salt; a separator barrier disposed at least partially within the molten salt; a reference salt disposed within the separator barrier; and a reference wire disposed within the reference salt.

Some embodiments include a molten salt system comprising: a molten salt enclosure; a molten salt disposed within the molten salt enclosure; a working electrode disposed at least partially within the molten salt; a counter electrode disposed at least partially within the molten salt; a separator barrier disposed at least partially within the molten salt; a reference salt disposed within the separator barrier; and a reference wire disposed within the reference salt.

Described are methods for the recovery of uranium from uranium hexafluoride dissolved directly into ionic liquids.

Disclosed are anodes for an electrochemical reduction system, such as for the electrochemical reduction of oxides in systems using molten salt electrolytes. The anodes comprise a rod or plate formed of and include at least one alloy of at least one transition metal and at least one platinum group metal. The alloy anodes may be less expensive than anodes formed solely from platinum group metals and may exhibit less material attrition than anodes formed solely from transition metals. Related methods and electrochemical reduction systems are also disclosed.

A method of forming an elemental metal (e.g., a rare-earth element) includes forming a multicomponent solution comprising an ionic liquid, a secondary component, and a metal-containing compound. The multicomponent solution is contacted with at least a first electrode and a second electrode. A current is passed between the first electrode to the second electrode through the multicomponent solution. The metal-containing compound is reduced to deposit the elemental metal therefrom on the first electrode.

A method of forming an elemental metal (e.g., a rare-earth element) includes forming a multicomponent solution comprising an ionic liquid, a secondary component, and a metal-containing compound. The multicomponent solution is contacted with at least a first electrode and a second electrode. A current is passed between the first electrode to the second electrode through the multicomponent solution. The metal-containing compound is reduced to deposit the elemental metal therefrom on the first electrode.

The invention provides an in situ method for protecting material exposed to molten salt, the method having the steps of supplying metal in a first nonreactive state to the molten salt to create a mixture; measuring a redox state of the mixture; and transforming the metal to a second reactive state when the redox state indicates corrosion of the material is about to occur. Also provided is a system for preventing corrosion of structural alloys in molten salt environments, the system having a vessel defining a void containing the molten salt; a voltammetry sensor inserted into the molten salt; a first cathode inserted into the molten salt; and a first anode inserted into the molten salt, whereby the cathode and anode are in electrical communication with an electrical power source.

A method for separating metal components from a treatment material containing a silicate and metal elements includes: a reaction step of reacting the treatment material and a molten alkali hydroxide in which bubbles due to water vapor derived from water are generated by heating a hydroxide of an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal and the water in a state where the hydroxide and the water coexist, to obtain a reaction product; and a first precipitation step of dissolving the reaction product of the treatment material and the molten alkali hydroxide after the reaction step in water, thereby generating a precipitate containing the metal elements.