METALYSIS LIMITED Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150129432 | ELECTROLYTIC METHOD, APPARATUS AND PRODUCT - In a method for removing a substance from a feedstock comprising a solid metal or a solid metal compound, the feedstock is contacted with a fused-salt melt. The fused-salt melt contains a fused salt, a reactive-metal compound, and a reactive metal. The fused salt comprises an anion species which is different from the substance, the reactive-metal compound comprises the reactive metal and the substance, and the reactive metal is capable of reaction to remove at least some of the substance from the feedstock. A cathode and an anode contact the melt, and the feedstock contacts the cathode. An electrical current is applied between the cathode and the anode such that at least a portion of the substance is removed from the feedstock. During the application of the current, a quantity of the reactive metal in the melt is maintained sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species of the fused salt at the anode. The method may advantageously be usable for removing the substance from successive batches of the feedstock, where the applied current is controlled such that the fused-salt melt after processing a batch contains the quantity of the reactive metal sufficient to prevent oxidation of the anion species at the anode. | 05-14-2015 |
20140231262 | ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF POWDER - A method of producing metallic powder comprises steps of arranging a volume of feedstock comprising a plurality of non-metallic particles within an electrolysis cell, causing a molten salt to flow through the volume of feedstock, and applying a potential between a cathode and an anode such that the feedstock is reduced to metal. In preferred embodiments the feedstock is a plurality of discrete powder particles and these particles are reduced to a corresponding plurality of discrete metallic particles. In advantageous embodiments, the feedstock may be sand. | 08-21-2014 |
20140165785 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING METAL POWDERS - A method of producing metallic powder for use in the manufacture of a capacitor comprises the step of reducing a non-metallic compound to metal in contact with a molten salt. The salt comprises, for at least a portion of the process, a dopant element that acts as a sinter retardant in the metal. In preferred examples, the metallic powder is Ta or Nb powder produced by the reduction of a Ta or Nb oxide and the dopant is boron, nitrogen, or phosphorous. | 06-19-2014 |
20140021058 | ELECTROLYSIS METHOD AND APPARATUS - The method, apparatus and product relate to the electrochemical reduction of a solid feedstock ( | 01-23-2014 |
20130327653 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTROLYTICALLY REDUCING A SOLID FEEDSTOCK - In a method of electrolytically reducing a solid feedstock, for example a solid metal oxide feedstock, an electrode module is positioned in a first position to be loaded with the feedstock. The loaded module is then transferred from the first position and engaged with an electrolysis chamber containing a molten salt. A voltage is applied to the electrode module to reduce the solid feedstock. The loaded module may be transferred within a transfer module. | 12-12-2013 |
20130299341 | ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - A removable electrode module for engagement with an electrolysis chamber comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a suspension structure. The suspension structure comprises a suspension rod coupled to the first electrode. The second electrode is suspended or supported by the suspension structure, which comprises at least one electrically-insulating spacer element for retaining the second electrode in spatial separation from the first electrode. | 11-14-2013 |
20120230860 | PURIFICATION PROCESS - A method for purifying metal M | 09-13-2012 |
20120160699 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCTION OF A SOLID FEEDSTOCK - In a method for reducing a solid feedstock ( | 06-28-2012 |
20120156492 | FEEDSTOCK - The invention relates to a feedstock for reduction in an electrolytic cell, for example a non-metallic feedstock that can be reduced to metal on a commercial scale. The feedstock comprises a plurality of three-dimensional elements which are shaped such that a volume of the feedstock has between 35% and 90% free space (not including any microscopic porosity of the elements). The elements are also shaped as randomly-packable elements to minimise any settling, ordering or alignment of the feedstock, which would otherwise hinder or prevent fluid flow and/or current flow through the feedstock. | 06-21-2012 |
20120138475 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCTION OF A SOLID FEEDSTOCK - In a method for reduction of a solid feedstock, such as a solid metal compound, in an electrolytic apparatus a portion of the feedstock is arranged in each of two or more electrolytic cells ( | 06-07-2012 |
20110308965 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING METAL POWDERS - A method of producing metallic powder for use in the manufacture of a capacitor comprises the step of reducing a non-metallic compound to metal in contact with a molten salt. The salt comprises, for at least a portion of the process, a dopant element that acts as a sinter retardant in the metal. In preferred examples, the metallic powder is Ta or Nb powder produced by the reduction of a Ta or Nb oxide and the dopant is boron, nitrogen, or phosphorous. | 12-22-2011 |
20110158843 | Electrolytic reduction of metal oxides such as titanium dioxide and process applications - A method of removing oxygen from a solid metal, metal compound or semi-metal M1O by electrolysis in a fused salt of M2Y or a mixture of salts, which comprises conducting electrolysis under conditions such that reaction of oxygen rather than M2 deposition occurs at an electrode surface and that oxygen dissolves in the electrolyte M2Y and wherein, M1O is in the form of (sintered) granules or is in the form of a powder which is continuously fed into the fused salt. Also disclosed is a method of producing a metal foam comprising the steps of fabricating a foam-like metal oxide perform, removing oxygen from said foam structured metal oxide preform by electrolysis in a fused salt of M2Y or a mixture of salts, which comprises conducting electrolysis under conditions such that reaction of oxygen rather than M2 deposition occurs at an electrode surface. The method is advantageously applied for the production of titanium from Ti-dioxide. | 06-30-2011 |