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Partial Anode Effect in a Two-Compartment Laboratory Alumina Reduction Cell

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Light Metals 2017

Part of the book series: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series ((MMMS))

Abstract

Most laboratory systems investigating the aluminium production process utilize a single anode set-up. When approaching alumina depletion under constant current conditions in such a system, the potential will increase to high levels (>10 V) and initiate an anode effect and perfluorocarbon generation. However, it has been discovered by industrial measurements that perfluorocarbon generation may also occur at normal cell voltages. With the use of a two-anode setup in parallel with an electronic load this phenomena was investigated in the laboratory. The results indicate that as long as the rest of the cell can acquire the extra load, partial passivation of one or more anodes is possible and can be accompanied by small amounts of PFC evolution (0–3 ppm mol CF4). Individual anode potentials can be highly elevated, albeit the changes get buried in the total cell voltage. Only when the total load becomes too large the voltage rises abruptly and substantial amounts of PFC can be produced (≫1000 ppm mol CF4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Henrik Åsheim, Wojciech Gębarowski, Espen Sandnes & Geir M. Haarberg

  2. SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, SINTEF, 7465, Trondheim, Norway

    Thor A. Aarhaug & Asbjørn Solheim

Authors
  1. Henrik Åsheim
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  2. Thor A. Aarhaug
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  3. Wojciech Gębarowski
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  4. Espen Sandnes
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  5. Asbjørn Solheim
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  6. Geir M. Haarberg
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Correspondence to Henrik Åsheim .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. SINTEF , Trondheim, Norway

    Arne P. Ratvik

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© 2017 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

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Åsheim, H., Aarhaug, T.A., Gębarowski, W., Sandnes, E., Solheim, A., Haarberg, G.M. (2017). Partial Anode Effect in a Two-Compartment Laboratory Alumina Reduction Cell. In: Ratvik, A. (eds) Light Metals 2017. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51541-0_66

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