Effect of composition and temperature on current efficiency for aluminium electrolysis from cryolite-based molten alumina electrolytes
Morishige, Taiki; Haarberg, Geir Martin; Gudbrandsen, Henrik; Skybakmoen, Egil; Solheim, Asbjørn; Takenaka, Toshihide
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Accepted version
Permanent lenke
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2479770Utgivelsesdato
2017Metadata
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- Institutt for materialteknologi [2652]
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Sammendrag
The current efficiency (CE) for aluminium electrolysis in modern cells can be as high as 96 %. The main reason for loss in current efficiency is the so-called back reaction between dissolved metal and the anode product of CO2. Decreasing temperature of the cell may give higher current efficiency. However, low superheat may cause solidification of melt. A laboratory cell to determine the current efficiency was recently modified to obtain more reliable results. Electrolysis was performed at constant current density and the current efficiency was determined from the weight of deposited aluminium. Effects of electrolyte composition by addition of LiF and temperature were studied. The loss in current efficiency is strongly related to the content of dissolved metal in the electrolyte. The effect of LiF addition on the current efficiency was discussed in this study.