2014-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2014 Volume 3: Non-ferrous & Iron_Steel
| Editors: | Kongoli F |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2014 |
| Pages: | 522 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-05-8 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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A Novel Pathway for Manufacturing of Metals from Metal Oxides
Ramana Reddy1;1THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, Tuscaloosa, United States;
Type of Paper: Plenary
Id Paper: 176
Topic: 3
Abstract:
A novel pathway for the high efficiency manufacturing of metal from metal oxide by means of electrolysis in ionic liquids at low temperature was investigated. The main emphasis was to eliminate the use of carbon and high temperature application in the reduction of metal oxides to metals. The focus of this research was to produce metals, such as Zn, and Pb that are normally produced by the application of very high temperatures. Experimental results for electrochemical extraction of Zn from ZnO and Pb from PbO using eutectic mixtures of Urea ((NH2)2CO) and Choline chloride (HOC2H4N(CH3)3+Cl-) or (ChCl) in a molar ratio 2:1, varying voltage and temperatures were carried out.
FTIR studies of ionic liquids with and without metal oxide additions were conducted. FTIR and ICPS were used in the characterization of the metal oxide dissolved ionic liquid. Electrochemical experiments were conducted using potentiostat/galvanostat with three electrode cell systems. Cyclic voltammetry was used in the determination of reduction potentials for the deposition of metals. Chronoamperometric experiments were carried out in the potential range of -0.6V to -1.9V for lead and -1.4V to -1.9V for zinc. The current efficiency for the deposition of Pb and Zn obtained was about 86% and 96%, respectively. The deposits were analyzed using XRD and SEM-EDS. The results from XRD confirm the deposition of pure metal on the cathode. The morphology of the deposited product is rod-like structure with an average diameter of 1 µm and up to 200 µm in length in the case of lead and particles of about 20 µm in size in the case of zinc. This technology will advance the metal oxide reduction process by increasing the process efficiency and also eliminate the production of CO2, which makes this an environmentally benign technology for metals production.