Patent ID: 8282903

Claim:
A process for the generation of nitric acid and a silver nitrate electrolyte from an initial solution containing: i) at least one hydrolysable base metal nitrate which is insoluble in water when hydrolyzed; and ii) silver nitrate, the process comprising the steps of: a) substantially dewatering the initial solution to drive off any unbound water and free nitric acid and to provide a melt of the dewatered solution that includes silver nitrate therein; b) applying a heat source to establish the temperature of the melt at a predetermined temperature range for hydrolyzing the at least one hydrolysable base metal nitrate; c) injecting water into the melt while maintaining the temperature of the melt at the temperature range for hydrolyzing the at least one base metal nitrate to hydrolyze the at least one hydrolysable base metal nitrate and form i) nitric acid; and ii) at least one insoluble hydrolyzed base metal salt; d) allowing formed nitric acid to evolve and separate from the melt; e) collecting the formed nitric acid until the melt is substantially free of nitric acid; f) ceasing application of the heat source to the melt; g) adding further water to the melt to form a solution containing silver nitrate with the at least one insoluble hydrolyzed base metal salt contained therein, and h) separating the at least one insoluble hydrolyzed base metal salt from the silver nitrate solution, thereby to provide an aqueous solution-that is substantially reduced in its content of the at least one hydrolysable base metal nitrate which is insoluble in water when hydrolyzed.