Use of Thermodynamic Modeling for Selection of Electrolyte for Electrorefining of Magnesium from Aluminum Alloy Melts

• Published in: Metallurgical and materials transactions. B, Process metallurgy and materials processing science Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 132 - 145
• Main Authors: Gesing, Adam J., Das, Subodh K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum alloys; Aluminum base alloys; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Computer based modeling; Electrolytes; Electrorefining; Extraction processes; Liquid metals; Magnesium; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Modelling; Nanotechnology; Phases; Software; Structural Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Thin Films; Standard Electrode Potential; Chloride System; MgF2; SrCl2; Carnallite
• ISSN: 1073-5615; 1543-1916
• DOI: 10.1007/s11663-016-0724-8

With United States Department of Energy Advanced Research Project Agency funding, experimental proof-of-concept was demonstrated for RE-12 TM electrorefining process of extraction of desired amount of Mg from recycled scrap secondary Al molten alloys. The key enabling technology for this process was the selection of the suitable electrolyte composition and operating temperature. The selection was made using the FactSage thermodynamic modeling software and the light metal, molten salt, and oxide thermodynamic databases. Modeling allowed prediction of the chemical equilibria, impurity contents in both anode and cathode products, and in the electrolyte. FactSage also provided data on the physical properties of the electrolyte and the molten metal phases including electrical conductivity and density of the molten phases. Further modeling permitted selection of electrode and cell construction materials chemically compatible with the combination of molten metals and the electrolyte.