Patent ID: 7608178

Claim:
A method of claiming active metal from an active metal ion source, the method comprising: providing, at the anode of an electrolytic cell, an active metal ion source in a liquid phase that is corrosive to active metal but compatible with an anode structure; and electrolyzing the active metal ion source with the electrolytic cell to obtain the active metal at the cathode of the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises: the cathode, the anode structure, at the anode, comprising an electronically conductive component, an ionically conductive component, and the active metal ion source in a liquid phase, and an ionically conductive membrane, with a first surface and a second surface, positioned between the cathode and the anode structure, wherein the first surface comprises a material chemically compatible with the cathode and in contact with the cathode, selected from the group consisting of active metal nitrides, active metal phosphides, active metal phosphorus oxynitride glass, and a semi-permeable membrane separator impregnated with a non-aqueous liquid or gel, and wherein the second surface comprises a material substantially impervious to and chemically compatible with the anode structure and in contact with the anode structure, selected from the group consisting of glassy or amorphous metal ion conductors, ceramic active metal ion conductors, and glass-ceramic active metal ion conductors.