Patent ID: 7901561

Claim:
A method for producing and refining a metal in an electrolytic method characterized in that: providing to a first electrolytic cell an upper molten electrolyte later comprising a first oxide-based electrolyte containing an oxide of the metal to be refined and calcium oxide, wherein the first electrolyte is in a molten state and has a melting point below the operating temperature of the process, an anode positioned in the upper molten electrolytic layer, and a lower molten alloy layer comprising an alloy of the metal to be refined and at least one metal more noble than the metal to be refined, said alloy constituting a cathode in the first electrolytic cell, said first electrolyte having a density less than the density of the alloy; adding raw material to said upper molten electrolyte layer, the raw material comprising a metal oxide of the metal to be refined; passing a direct current through the anode to the cathode for reducing the metal oxide to produce an alloy having a higher concentration of the metal to be refined; transferring the alloy of the lower molten allow layer of the first electrolytic cell to a second electrolytic cell so as to provide a lower molten alloy layer comprising the alloy to the second electrolytic cell, said alloy constituting an anode in the second electrolytic cell; providing to the second electrolytic cell an upper molten metal layer comprising a metal of the same metal as the metal to be refined, said upper molten metal layer constituting a cathode, and an intermediate molten electrolyte layer comprising a second electrolyte having a density between the density of the upper molten metal layer and lower molten alloy layer; and passing a direct electric current through the anode to the cathode of the second electrolytic cell whereby the metal to be refined moves from anode alloy to the upper molten metal layer.