ELECTRO-CHEMICAL REDUCTION OF METAL OXIDES Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC C25C5/00 

FIELD: metallurgy, electrolysis.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to electro-chemical reduction of powders and/or granules of metal oxides, particularly to electrolytic cell and to method of continuous or semi-continuous reduction of powders and/or granules of metal oxides in this electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell contains a cathode in form of a plate which has an upper surface to maintain powders and/or granules of metal oxides. The plate is arranged horizontally or slightly inclined and has the front end and a back end and is immersed into an electrolyte bath. The plate is supported and is able to travel so as to transfer powders or granules of metal oxides along the upper surface of the plate in the direction of the front end of the plate. Besides, the electrolytic cell contains a facility to activate powders and/or granules of metal oxides into a motion along the upper surface of the plate in the direction to the front end of the cathode simultaneously contacting with melted electrolyte, owing to which electro-chemical reduction of metal oxide to metal occurs. In the suggested invention there is obtained continuous or semi-continuous electro-chemical reduction of metal oxides in form of granules for production of metal with low concentration of oxygen.

EFFECT: facilitating continuous or semi-continuous electro-chemical reduction of metal oxides in form of granules for production of metal with low concentration of oxygen.

23 cl, 1 dwg