scholarly journals Aluminium Recycling in Single- and Multiple-Capillary Laboratory Electrolysis Cells

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1053
Author(s):  
Andrey Yasinskiy ◽  
Sai Krishna Padamata ◽  
Ilya Moiseenko ◽  
Srecko Stopic ◽  
Dominic Feldhaus ◽  
...  

This work is a contribution to the approach for Al purification and extraction from scrap using the thin-layer multiple-capillary molten salt electrochemical system. The single- and multiple-capillary cells were designed and used to study the kinetics of aluminium reduction in LiF–AlF3 and equimolar NaCl–KCl with 10 wt.% AlF3 addition at 720–850 °C. The cathodic process on the vertical liquid aluminium electrode in NaCl–KCl (+10 wt.% AlF3) in the 2.5 mm length capillary had mixed kinetics with signs of both diffusion and chemical reaction control. The apparent mass transport coefficient changed from 5.6∙10−3 cm.s−1 to 13.1∙10−3 cm.s−1 in the mentioned temperature range. The dependence between the mass transport coefficient and temperature follows an Arrhenius-type behaviour with an activation energy equal to 60.5 J.mol−1. In the multiple-capillary laboratory electrolysis cell, galvanostatic electrolysis in a 64LiF–36AlF3 melt showed that the electrochemical refinery can be performed at a current density of 1 A.cm−2 or higher with a total voltage drop of around 2.0 V and specific energy consumption of about 6–7 kW.kg−1. The resistance fluctuated between 0.9 and 1.4 Ω during the electrolysis depending on the current density. Thin-layer aluminium recycling and refinery seems to be a promising approach capable of producing high-purity aluminium with low specific energy consumption.

Metals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1596
Author(s):  
Arif T. Aji ◽  
Jari Aromaa ◽  
Mari Lundström

Increasing silver production rate has been a challenge for the existing refining facilities. The application of high current density (HCD) as one of the possible solutions to increase the process throughput is also expected to reduce both energy consumption and process inventory. From the recently-developed models of silver electrorefining, this study simulated the optimum electrolyte parameters to optimize the specific energy consumption (SEC) and the silver inventory in the electrolyte for an HCD application. It was found that by using [Cu2+] in electrolyte, both objectives can be achieved. The suggested optimum composition range from this study was [Ag+] 100–150 g/dm3, [HNO3] 5 g/dm3, and [Cu2+] 50–75 g/dm3. HCD application (1000 A/m2) in these electrolyte conditions result in cell voltage of 2.7–3.2 V and SEC of 0.60–1.01 kWh/kg, with silver inventory in electrolyte of 26–39 kg silver for 100 kg per day basis. The corresponding figures for the conventional process were 1.5–2.8 V, 0.44–0.76 kWh/kg, and 15.54–194.25 kg, in respective order. These results show that, while HCD increases SEC by app. 30%, the improvement provides a significant smaller footprint as a result of a more compact of process. Thus, applying HCD in silver electrorefining offers the best solution in increasing production capacity and process efficiency.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Pantorlawn ◽  
T. Threrujirapapong ◽  
W. Khanitchaidecha ◽  
D. Channei ◽  
A. Nakaruk

Abstract Spent coolant is considered as one of the most polluting industrial wastes and causes environmental problems. It mostly contains high non-biodegradable organic carbon and oil contents; the biodegradability index was very low at 0.04, which is difficult to be effectively treated by common treatment systems. Electrocoagulation (EC) was proposed for a pre-treatment of coolant. The laboratory-scale of EC reactor was developed with Al electrodes and 10 mm of interelectrodes. The efficiency of the EC reactor on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was investigated at various current densities and electrolysis times. The highest current density of 50 mA/cm2 induced a short electrolysis time of 10 min to reach the steady state of approximately 65% COD removal. When lower current densities of 20–40 mA/cm2 were supplied to the EC reactor, COD removal efficiency of 65% can be achieved at longer electrolysis times. According to the specific energy consumption and sludge production, the optimal condition for spent coolant treatment was the current density of 20 mA/cm2 and electrolysis time of 30 min in which a COD removal of efficiency of 68% was obtained, 0.88 kWh/kg-COD of the specific energy consumption and 0.04 kg/kg-COD of the sludge production.


Author(s):  
Supawan Tirawanichakul ◽  
Somkiat Prachayawarakorn ◽  
Warunee Varanyanond ◽  
Somchart Soponronnarit

The main objective of this work was to determine an effective moisture diffusivity of long grain rice during fluidized-bed drying (FBD) with inlet drying temperatures ranging of 40-150°C by 10°C/step and to investigate the specific energy consumption of the FBD process. Three initial moisture contents of the local indica paddy were set at 25.0, 28.8 and 32.5% dry-basis. The experimental results of thin-layer fluidized-bed drying for the long grain rice variety were determined and statistically analyzed by non-linear regression method. The results showed that an effective diffusion coefficient was highly dependent on the drying temperature, compared to initial moisture content. Consequently, the mathematical simulation of FBD, using the developed thin-layer drying mentioned above, was evaluated and used for predicting the paddy drying system. The simulated value of energy consumption in each of the drying conditions was comparatively simulated. The simulated results showed that a FBD with low temperatures and low initial moisture content gave higher specific energy consumption than drying with high temperatures and high initial moisture contents. The total specific energy consumption increased with a decreased fraction of re-circulated outlet drying air. According to the simulation results and our previous work, the conclusion is that the long grain paddy drying with FBD technique under a high initial moisture content and drying air temperature over 100°C is the good drying condition for recommendation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ju-Sheng Huang ◽  
I-Chung Lee ◽  
Biing-Jauh Lin

When the influent surface loading of copper ion in the four-stage continuous-flow reactors of electrolysis were controlled at 143.9, 94.0, 52.7 and 33.2 mg/min-dm2, respectively, and current density were controlled at 3.9, 2.6, 1.3 and 1.3A/dm2, respectively, the concentration of copper decreased from 13,900 to l,900mg/l (i.e., the electro-deposition rate of copper were 2,700, 2,240, 1,500 and 750 mg/dm2-h, respectively). The purity of copper depositing on the cathode reached over 98%. When the current density was ranged from 1.3 to 3.9A/dm2, the electro-deposition rate of copper increased with the increasing current density. However, when the current density was raised above 5.2 A/dm2, the electro-deposition rate of copper decreased with the increasing current density. The increase of current density decreased the current efficiency and increased the specific energy consumption. The increase of influent surface loading of copper ion increased the current efficiency and decreased the specific energy consumption.


1970 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Balasubramanian ◽  
Rajkumar Rajkumar ◽  
K K Singh

Experiment to identify ambient grinding conditions and energy consumed was conducted for fenugreek. Fenugreek seeds at three moisture content (5.1%, 11.5% and 17.3%, d.b.) were ground using a micro pulverizer hammer mill with different grinding screen openings (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mm) and feed rate (8, 16 and 24 kg h-1) at 3000 rpm. Physical properties of fenugreek seeds were also determined. Specific energy consumptions were found to decrease from 204.67 to 23.09 kJ kg-1 for increasing levels of feed rate and grinder screen openings. On the other hand specific energy consumption increased with increasing moisture content. The highest specific energy consumption was recorded for 17.3% moisture content and 8 kg h-1 feed rate with 0.5 mm screen opening. Average particle size decreased from 1.06 to 0.39 mm with increase of moisture content and grinder screen opening. It has been observed that the average particle size was minimum at 0.5 mm screen opening and 8 kg h-1 feed rate at lower moisture content. Bond’s work index and Kick’s constant were found to increase from 8.97 to 950.92 kWh kg-1 and 0.932 to 78.851 kWh kg-1 with the increase of moisture content, feed rate and grinder screen opening, respectively. Size reduction ratio and grinding effectiveness of fenugreek seed were found to decrease from 4.11 to 1.61 and 0.0118 to 0.0018 with the increase of moisture content, feed rate and grinder screen opening, respectively. The loose and compact bulk densities varied from 219.2 to 719.4 kg m-3 and 137.3 to 736.2 kg m-3, respectively.  


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