Stable anodes including iron oxide and use of such anodes in metal production cells
View Patent ↗Stable anodes comprising iron oxide useful for the electrolytic production of metal such as aluminum are disclosed. The iron oxide may comprise Fe 3 O 4 , Fe 2 O 3 , FeO or a combination thereof. During the electrolytic aluminum production process, the anodes remain stable at a controlled bath temperature of the aluminum production cell and current density through the anodes is controlled. The iron oxide-containing anodes may be used to produce commercial purity aluminum.
1. A stable anode for use in an electrolytic aluminum production cell, the stable anode comprising a monolithic body entirely composed of Fe 3 O 4 and FeO.
2. The stable anode of claim 1 , wherein the anode remains stable in a molten bath of an electrolytic aluminum production cell at a temperature of up to 960° C.
3. An electrolytic aluminum production cell including a plurality of the stable anodes of claim 1 .
4. The electrolytic aluminum production cell of claim 3 , wherein the electrolytic aluminum production cell contains a cryolite bath and wherein the electrolytic cell is operable to produce commercial purity aluminum utilizing the plurality of stable anodes, wherein the commercial purity aluminum contains a maximum of 0.5 weight percent iron.
5. The electrolytic aluminum production cell of claim 4 , wherein the electrolytic aluminum production cell is operable at temperatures of from about 850° C. to about 920° C. to produce the commercial purity aluminum.
6. The electrolytic aluminum production cell of claim 5 , wherein the commercial purity aluminum contains a maximum of 0.034 weight percent Ni, a maximum of 0.034 weight percent Cu, and a maximum of 0.15 weight percent Si.
7. A stable anode for use in an electrolytic aluminum production cell, the stable anode comprising a monolithic body enterely composeed of Fe 3 O 4 and FeO and up to up to 10 wt % of an additive, wherein the additive is an oxide of one of Al, Si, and Mg.
8. The stable anode of claim 7 , wherein the stable anode comprises up to 5 wt % of an additive, wherein the additive is an oxide of one of Al, Si, and Mg.
9. A stable anode for use in an electrolytic aluminum production cell, the stable anode comprising a monolithic body entirely composed of Fe 2 O 3 and FeO.
10. The stable anode of claim 9 , wherein the anode remains stable in a molten bath of an electrolytic aluminum production cell at a temperature of up to 960° C.
11. An electrolytic aluminum production cell including a plurality of the stable anodes of claim 9 .
12. The electrolytic aluminum production cell of claim 11 , wherein the electrolytic aluminum production cell contains a cryolite bath and wherein the electrolytic cell is operable to produce commercial purity aluminum utilizing the plurality of stable anodes, wherein the commercial purity aluminum contains a maximum of 0.5 weight percent iron.
13. The electrolytic aluminum production cell of claim 12 , wherein the electrolytic aluminum production cell is operable at temperatures of from about 850° C. to about 920° C. to produce the commercial purity aluminum.
14. The electrolytic aluminum production cell of claim 13 , wherein the commercial purity aluminum contains a maximum of 0.034 weight percent Ni, a maximum of 0.034 weight percent Cu, and a maximum of 0.15 weight percent Si.
15. A stable anode for use in an electrolytic aluminum production cell, the stable anode comprising a monolithic body entirely composed of Fe 3 O 4 and FeO and up to 10 wt % of an additive, wherein the additive is an oxide of one of Al, Si, and Mg.
16. The stable anode of claim 15 , wherein the stable anode comprises up to 5 wt % of an additive, wherein the additive is an oxide of one of Al, Si, and Mg.