US 12,215,436 B2
Treatment of metal ores
Derek Fray, Great Shelford (GB); and Paul Coxon, Cambridge (GB)
Appl. No. 18/704,041
Filed by CHINUKA LTD, London (GB)
PCT Filed Oct. 7, 2022, PCT No. PCT/GB2022/052540
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 23, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/105180, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 15, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2117645 (GB), filed on Dec. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0328021 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. C25C 3/00 (2006.01); C25C 3/12 (2006.01); C25C 3/26 (2006.01); C25C 7/02 (2006.01); C25C 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC C25C 3/125 (2013.01) [C25C 3/26 (2013.01); C25C 7/025 (2013.01); C25C 7/06 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of refining a metal capable of forming an oxycarbide, comprising the following steps:
(a) providing an oxide of the metal;
(b) reacting the oxide of the metal to form the oxycarbide by:
providing an electrode comprising the oxide of the metal and carbon; and
electrolytically reducing the electrode in a molten calcium chloride electrolyte;
(c) electrolyzing the oxycarbide in the molten calcium chloride electrolyte by reversing electrolytic cell polarity such that the oxycarbide is configured as an anode; and
(d) recovering a refined form of the metal from a cathode in the molten calcium chloride electrolyte;
wherein the oxide of the metal has a level of impurities of at least 1.0 wt %; and
wherein the impurities are leached from the oxycarbide before step (c) using acid.