Electrolysis-Chlorination-Electrolysis Device for High-Purity Titanium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing high-purity titanium, such as the Kroll method and molten salt electrolysis, are inefficient and costly due to complex processes and high raw material purity requirements, leading to increased production costs and limited yield.
Innovation Solution
A device and method involving electrolysis-chlorination-electrolysis, where titanium dioxide and carbonaceous material are mixed, subjected to carbothermic reduction, and then processed in two electrolytic cells with molten alkali and alkaline earth chlorides to produce TiCl4, which is electrolyzed to obtain high-purity titanium, simplifying the process and reducing costs by recycling chlorine gas and optimizing byproduct utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the Kroll method is used to produce high-purity titanium, then titanium can be obtained through thermal reduction of TiCl4 by magnesium, but the process takes long time and the yield is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the titanium production process into two separate electrolytic cells: the first cell performs chlorination of TiO2 to produce TiCl4, and the second cell performs electrolysis of TiCl4 to produce high-purity titanium. This segmentation allows each cell to be optimized for its specific function, enabling continuous operation and improving both purity and productivity simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If higher purity raw materials (TiCl4 and magnesium) are used in the Kroll method to obtain high-purity titanium, then the titanium content can exceed 99.95% or 99.99%, but the preparation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first electrolytic cell produces high-purity TiCl4 in-situ from TiO2 and carbonaceous materials, eliminating the need to purchase external high-purity TiCl4 and magnesium. The system serves its own raw material needs, significantly reducing material costs while maintaining 99.95% or 99.99% titanium purity in the final product.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention recycles chlorine gas produced at the anode of the second electrolytic cell back to the first electrolytic cell for continuous TiCl4 production. This recovery and reuse of chlorine eliminates waste and reduces the need for continuous external chlorine supply, lowering operational costs.
3Manufacturing precision
If the molten salt electrolysis method is used with sponge titanium as anode, then the oxygen content in the product can be controlled to obtain high-purity titanium with low oxygen content, but the upstream process becomes complicated and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complicated upstream sponge titanium production step by directly using TiO2 and carbonaceous materials as feedstock in the first electrolytic cell. This produces TiCl4 in-situ, which is then electrolyzed in the second cell to produce high-purity titanium with controlled low oxygen content, simplifying the overall process while maintaining precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If the Kroll method is used for titanium production, then titanium can be produced through established industrial process, but the entire process flow is tedious and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the chlorination step and the electrolysis step into an integrated two-cell system where the first cell produces TiCl4 and the second cell electrolyzes it to produce titanium. This unified approach eliminates the need for separate, complex unit operations required in the Kroll method, simplifying the process flow while maintaining high titanium purity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the production process, reduces costs, and enhances the purity and value of high-purity titanium by separating chlorination and electrolysis steps, while allowing for customizable byproduct production based on market needs, thereby improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of titanium production.
Implementation Method 1
In a first electrolytic cell, molten alkali chloride, molten alkaline earth chloride, molten aluminum chloride or their mixture are electrolyzed
Implementation Method 2
The chlorine gas obtained at the anode of the first electrolytic cell is introduced into a chlorination reactor containing the TiCxOy or TiCxOyNz raw material, thereby initiating a chlorination to obtain TiCl4 gas
Implementation Method 3
The TiCl4 gas passes through a guide tube into a cathode of a second electrolytic cell, and then an electrolysis occurs to generate the high-purity titanium by taking advantage of the solubility of TiCl4 in the second electrolytic cell
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for preparing pure titanium by electrolysis-chlorination-electrolysis, wherein the device includes a first electrolytic cell, a second electrolytic cell, a chlorination reactor and guide tubes. The Cl2 generated at the anode of the first electrolytic cell is introduced into a chlorination reactor containing the TiCxOy or TiCxOyNz raw materials via a guide tube, and a chlorination is carried out to generate TiCl4 gas at a temperature of 200° C.-600° C. The TiCl4 gas passes through a guide tube into a cathode of the second electrolytic cell, and then an electrolysis is performed to obtain the high-purity titanium in the second electrolytic cell. At the same time, the Cl2 generated at the anode of the second electrolytic cell is recycled into the chlorination reactor in the first electrolytic cell to continue to participate in the chlorination of TiCxOy or TiCxOyNz.