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Dissolution of Al2O3 in KF–AlF3

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Russian Metallurgy (Metally) Aims and scope

Abstract

KF–AlF3–Al2O3-based melts are promising media for the electrolytic production of aluminum in next-generation energy efficient cells. This work analyzes the dissolution of Al2O3 in the KF–AlF3 melt with a mole ratio [KF]/[AlF3] = 1.5 mol/mol at 785°C using cyclic voltammetry and the carbothermic reduction of melt samples using a LECO analyzer. The measurements are performed by a cell consisting of a carbon glass working electrode, a CO/CO2 gas reference electrode, and a graphite counter electrode. During measurements, the current response peak on voltammograms is recorded as a function of the potential scan rate, the dissolution time of the next alumina sample, and the alumina content in the melt. The current response peak is shown to linearly depend on the Al2O3 content in the melt, and the oxide dissolution rate is from 2.4 × 10–3 to 5.45 × 10–5 mol/s as a function of the oxide content in the melt. The obtained results demonstrate general possibility of operating nondestructive control of the alumina (Al2O3) content during the electrolysis of KF–AlF3–Al2O3–based melts. It includes the recording of a current response peak in current–voltage curves and the determination of the current alumina content in a melt using the obtained empirical dependence.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to O.B. Pavlenko for the LECO analysis of samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. nstitute of High-Temperature Electrochemistry, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, I, Russia

    P. S. Pershin, A. V. Suzdaltsev & Yu. P. Zaikov

  2. Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia

    Yu. P. Zaikov

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  1. P. S. Pershin
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  2. A. V. Suzdaltsev
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  3. Yu. P. Zaikov
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Correspondence to P. S. Pershin.

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Translated by I. Moshkin

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Pershin, P.S., Suzdaltsev, A.V. & Zaikov, Y.P. Dissolution of Al2O3 in KF–AlF3 . Russ. Metall. 2021, 213–218 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0036029521020191

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