Disclosed herein is an electrolyzer comprising a horizontal cathode located below a suspended anode for purposes of performing electrolysis on metal-bearing mixtures or solutions. The horizontal cathode may comprise the bottom surface of a compartment for containing a mixture or solution of metal components, electrolyte, and/or supplemental chemicals. The horizontal anode may engage the upper surface of the mixture or solution in the compartment. A removal mechanism for facilitating removal of the end-products of the mixture or solution from the compartment (and the surface of the horizontal cathode) through the gate may also be employed. These implementations may be used in recycling of lead acid batteries (LABs) without any need for smelting, and also may be applied to a variety of different electrolytical operations.

Disclosed herein is an electrolyzer comprising a horizontal cathode located below a suspended anode for purposes of performing electrolysis on metal-bearing mixtures or solutions. The horizontal cathode may comprise the bottom surface of a compartment for containing a mixture or solution of metal components, electrolyte, and/or supplemental chemicals. The horizontal anode may engage the upper surface of the mixture or solution in the compartment. A removal mechanism for facilitating removal of the end-products of the mixture or solution from the compartment (and the surface of the horizontal cathode) through the gate may also be employed. These implementations may be used in recycling of lead acid batteries (LABs) without any need for smelting, and also may be applied to a variety of different electrolytical operations.

Systems and methods for converting metal oxide to metal using metal carbide as an intermediate, include: reacting the metal oxide with carbon to produce the metal carbide, wherein the metal carbide is in a form of powder or pellets; and subjecting the metal carbide produced from the metal oxide and the carbon to electrolysis in an electrorefiner to produce and purify the metal.

Systems and methods for converting metal oxide to metal using metal carbide as an intermediate, include: reacting the metal oxide with carbon to produce the metal carbide, wherein the metal carbide is in a form of powder or pellets; and subjecting the metal carbide produced from the metal oxide and the carbon to electrolysis in an electrorefiner to produce and purify the metal.

Equipment for sucking and extracting anodic sludge from cells for electro-refining or electro-winning of metals that allows the continuous and selective extraction of anodic sludge without interrupting electro-refining or electro-winning, preventing the anodic sludge from causing contamination in the copper cathodes and in the time in later stages of metal recovery, where the equipment comprises: a vacuum tank (2) that receives the extracted anode sludge, comprising an outlet valve (21) located in its lower part; a filter (25) resistant to acid (25) inside the vacuum tank (2) for the separation of the anode sludge from the sucked electrolyte so that the anode sludge remains in the filter (25) by a decantation process while the electrolyte passes to the lower part of the tank body; a vacuum system (3), connected to the vacuum tank (2), which generates a vacuum inside the vacuum tank (2) to generate the suction or vacuum aspiration of the equipment; and an anode sludge collector (1) comprising a transparent tube (11) where a first end (12) has a suction nozzle (14) connected, through which the anode sludge enters, and a second end (13) is connected to the vacuum tank (2); a regulating valve (15) mounted at or near said outlet end (13) of the transparent tube (11), which is in communication with the interior of the transparent tube (11) at one of its ends and at atmospheric pressure at the another end, where said regulating valve (15) allows the regulation of the suction pressure inside the anode mud collector (1) and the extraction generated in the suction nozzle (14).

Equipment for sucking and extracting anodic sludge from cells for electro-refining or electro-winning of metals that allows the continuous and selective extraction of anodic sludge without interrupting electro-refining or electro-winning, preventing the anodic sludge from causing contamination in the copper cathodes and in the time in later stages of metal recovery, where the equipment comprises: a vacuum tank (2) that receives the extracted anode sludge, comprising an outlet valve (21) located in its lower part; a filter (25) resistant to acid (25) inside the vacuum tank (2) for the separation of the anode sludge from the sucked electrolyte so that the anode sludge remains in the filter (25) by a decantation process while the electrolyte passes to the lower part of the tank body; a vacuum system (3), connected to the vacuum tank (2), which generates a vacuum inside the vacuum tank (2) to generate the suction or vacuum aspiration of the equipment; and an anode sludge collector (1) comprising a transparent tube (11) where a first end (12) has a suction nozzle (14) connected, through which the anode sludge enters, and a second end (13) is connected to the vacuum tank (2); a regulating valve (15) mounted at or near said outlet end (13) of the transparent tube (11), which is in communication with the interior of the transparent tube (11) at one of its ends and at atmospheric pressure at the another end, where said regulating valve (15) allows the regulation of the suction pressure inside the anode mud collector (1) and the extraction generated in the suction nozzle (14).

Metallurgical assemblies and systems according to the present technology may include a refractory vessel including sides and a base. The base may define a plurality of apertures centrally located within the base. The sides and the base may at least partially define an interior volume of the refractory vessel. The assemblies may include a lid removably coupled with the refractory vessel and configured to form a seal with the refractory vessel. The lid may define a plurality of apertures through the lid. The assemblies may also include a current collector proximate the base of the refractory vessel. The current collector may include conductive extensions positioned within the plurality of apertures centrally located within the base.

Metallurgical assemblies and systems according to the present technology may include a refractory vessel including sides and a base. The base may define a plurality of apertures centrally located within the base. The sides and the base may at least partially define an interior volume of the refractory vessel. The assemblies may include a lid removably coupled with the refractory vessel and configured to form a seal with the refractory vessel. The lid may define a plurality of apertures through the lid. The assemblies may also include a current collector proximate the base of the refractory vessel. The current collector may include conductive extensions positioned within the plurality of apertures centrally located within the base.

An electrolytic cell for producing aluminum metal is disclosed. The electrolytic cell comprises at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes and being supported above a corresponding at least one cathode module having a plurality of cathodes, the at least one anode module being supported by a positioning apparatus configured to move inside the cell for selectively positioning the plurality of anodes within the electrolytic cell relative to adjacent cathodes in order to adjust an anode-cathode distance (ACD) and/or an anode-cathode overlap (ACO). Preferably, the anodes are inert or oxygen-evolving electrodes for an eco-friendly or “green” production of a metal, such as aluminum (or aluminium).

An electrolytic cell for producing aluminum metal is disclosed. The electrolytic cell comprises at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes and being supported above a corresponding at least one cathode module having a plurality of cathodes, the at least one anode module being supported by a positioning apparatus configured to move inside the cell for selectively positioning the plurality of anodes within the electrolytic cell relative to adjacent cathodes in order to adjust an anode-cathode distance (ACD) and/or an anode-cathode overlap (ACO). Preferably, the anodes are inert or oxygen-evolving electrodes for an eco-friendly or “green” production of a metal, such as aluminum (or aluminium).