Inert anode in a high-temperature molten salt system and oxygen generation by moon regolith electrolysis
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摘要: 目前,熔鹽電化學冶金普遍采用炭素陽極,陽極CO2產物是重要的碳排放源。若在高溫熔鹽體系中使用惰性析氧陽極,則可實現熔鹽電解過程低碳排放。因此,開發適用于熔鹽電解體系的惰性陽極至關重要,也是近年來國內外研究熱點。本文首先綜述了各種高溫熔鹽體系惰性陽極的研究進展,所涉及熔鹽體系包括:鋁電解氟化物鹽、CaCl2熔鹽、碳酸鹽和熔融氧化物等。另外,近年來月球開發利用受到廣泛關注,太陽能驅動的月壤原位熔鹽電化學制氧,將是支撐人類未來月面生存氧氣需求的重要方法之一,故惰性析氧陽極不可或缺。因此,本文也簡要綜述了基于惰性陽極的月壤電解制氧技術。Abstract: In 2020, China proposed to reach the peak of CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which is the so-called “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” strategy. Due to strategic requirements, the metallurgical industry has the responsibility of reducing its CO2 emission as it is one of the major CO2 emitters. Therefore, it is imperative to develop low-carbon metallurgical technology. High-temperature molten salt electrochemical metallurgy uses electrons as the energy carrier and reaction driving force, having the advantages of cleanliness and high efficiency. It is the main extraction technology for aluminum, rare earth elements, alkali metal, and alkaline earth metals. Currently, carbon anodes are commonly used in molten salt electrochemical metallurgy, and CO2 product is an important carbon emission source. If an inert oxygen evolution anode is used in a high-temperature molten salt system, then low-carbon emissions can be achieved in the molten salt electrolysis process. Therefore, the development of inert anodes suitable for molten salt electrolysis systems is very important, which has recently become a worldwide research hotspot. This article first reviewed the research progress of inert anodes in various high-temperature molten salt systems, including aluminum electrolytic fluoride salts, CaCl2 molten salts, carbonates, and molten oxides. Meanwhile, the recent development and the utilization of the moon have received widespread attention. In the future construction of lunar bases, oxygen will be the basic prerequisite for human survival. Solar-driven in-situ oxygen production with molten salt electrochemistry from the moon regolith will be an important method in the future to support the oxygen demand for human survival on the moon. Hence, inert oxygen evolution anodes are essential. Therefore, this article also briefly summarized oxygen production technology by moon regolith electrolysis based on inert anodes.
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圖 2 電解前后惰性陽極形貌圖. (a)電解前CaRuO3;(b)電解后CaRuO3;(c)電解后CaRuxTi1–xO3;(d) 采用CaRuO3 惰性陽極的電解過程電流/氧氣隨時間變化圖[42]
Figure 2. Morphology images of inert anodes before and after electrolysis: (a) CaRuO3 before electrolysis; (b) CaRuO3 after electrolysis; (c) CaRuxTi1–xO3 after electrolysis; (d) current/oxygen–time profile for electrolysis using a CaRuO3 anode[42]
圖 3 (a)100 h電解后TiB2惰性陽極橫截面EPMA (Electron–probe micro analysis)結果;(b)膜I、II和III的XRD測試;(c)TiB2陽極鈍化膜形成機理[46]
Figure 3. (a) Electro–probe micro analysis of TiB2 anode cross section after 100 h of electrolysis; (b) XRD tests of films I, II, and III; (c) formation mechanism of the TiB2 anode passivation film[46]
圖 7 (a)Cr90Fe10的SEM圖;(b)Cr/Fe原子比EDS分析(沿圖7(a)中的虛線);(c)Cr90Fe10電解質界面光學顯微圖;(d,e)Cr90Fe10表面XRD圖,靠近基體(d)及靠近電解質(e);(f)恒電流電解過程中電壓、氧氣和氮氣含量(體積分數)隨時間的變化[62]
Figure 7. (a) SEM image of Cr90Fe10; (b) Cr/Fe atomic ratio EDS analysis (along the dotted line in Fig.7(a)); (c) optical micrograph of the Cr90Fe10 electrolyte interface; (d, e) XRD diagrams of the Cr90Fe10 surface, which are close to the substrate (d) and electrolyte (e); (f) variation of the cell voltage and the oxygen and the nitrogen content (volume fraction) of the process gas during constant current electrolysis [62]
表 1 鋁電解采用惰性陽極后的潛在優勢[5]
Table 1. Potential advantages of adopting an inert anode in aluminum electrolysis[5]
Environmental Protection Cost Energy Consumption Process/Control Safety/Health ① Reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions; ② Eliminate the emissions of PFCs; ③ Eliminate the emissions of asphalt flue gas (polycyclic aromatic carbohydrates and polycyclic organics); ④ Eliminate the emissions of hydroxysulfides; ⑤ Eliminate dry coke powder and anode roasting paste dust emission; ⑥ Reduce the generation of waste lining; ⑦ Reduce HF emissions ①Reduce the anode cost; ②Improve the metal quality of the product; ③Increase the space utilization rate of the electrolytic cell; ④Increase the production capacity per unit volume of the electrolytic cell; ⑤Reduce operation manpower; ⑥More flexible cell structure design ①Improve the thermal efficiency of the electrolytic cell and reduce heat loss; ②Save energy consumption in the preparation of carbon anodes; ③Anode production is more energy efficient; ④Utilization in conjunction with wettable cathodes can greatly reduce electrode spacing, thereby reducing power consumption ①Carbon anode production plant is eliminated; ②Anode replacement frequency is reduced; ③The bottom of the anode is relatively flat, making control of the electrode spacing convenient ①Reduce anode replacement work; ②Electrolytic cell is more densely closed; ③Improve the working environment of the workshop www.77susu.com -
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