Electrolytic extn of iron in molten chlorides - using cathode of molten aluminium which forms an aluminium-iron alloy

摘要

The parent patent described a process for the electrolytic extn. of iron by subjecting a ferriferous prod. to high-temp. electrolysis so that the Fe is deposited on a cathode of molten metal, the alloy thus obtd. then undergoing a sepn. process to isolate and recover the Fe, the electrolysis being undertaken in molten chlorides. In the present invention, the novelty is that the molten metal forming the cathode is aluminium. The aluminium then recovered during the sepn. process is pref. returned to the electrolysis cell, but at least a part of the alloy may be directly employed in liq. or solid form, e.g. in the deoxidn. of steel. Iron is sol. in Al up to 40% so only a relatively small amt. of Al is required, and ferro-aluminium with a constant compsn. can be produced.