Electrochemical Behavior and Electrorefining of Vanadium in Melts Containing Titanium Salts

摘要

Electrorefining of vanadium in the NaCl-KCl-K_2TiF_6 (20 wt.%) melt was studied. Vanadium ions appeared in the melt due to the reaction 2Ti(IV) + V → 2Ti(III) + V(II) and the equilibrium constant of this reaction is strongly shifted to the right side. On the base of linear sweep voltammetry diagnostic criteria, the discharge of V(II) to metal is controlled by diffusion. The electrorefining of vanadium was carried out in hermetic electrolyzer stainless steel. A sluice device made it possible to replace the molybdenum cathode without disturbing the inert atmosphere over the melt. Initial cathodic current density was changed from 0.2 A cm~(-2) up to 0.8 A cm~(-2). Behavior of impurities during electrorefining of vanadium are discussed.