Patent ID: 8764962
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: C25C

Abstract:
1. A method of extracting a target element from an oxide feedstock of the target element, the method comprising: providing a liquid oxide electrolyte comprising at least 75% by weight of one or more oxide compounds, in which the oxide feedstock is dissolved forming ionic oxygen species and ionic target element species; providing an anode comprising a metallic anode substrate wherein one element constitutes at least 50% by weight of the metallic anode substrate, and wherein the one element is more reactive with respect to oxygen than the target element, the metallic anode substrate having a solid oxide layer comprising one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of the target element, the metallic anode substrate and the electrolyte, the anode in contact with the electrolyte; providing a cathode in contact with the electrolyte; driving electrons from the ionic oxygen species in the electrolyte into the metallic substrate across the solid oxide layer thereon so as to form gaseous oxygen; and reducing the ionic target element species in the electrolyte to form a liquid of the target element at the cathode, the target element having a melting temperature greater than 1200° C.