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Periodic Shorting of SOM Cell to Remove Soluble Magnesium in Molten Flux and Improve Faradaic Efficiency

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Abstract

Solid oxide membrane (SOM) electrolysis has been used for magnesium production directly from magnesium oxide. Magnesium dissolution in molten flux electrolyte is of particular concern in SOM electrolysis, because it imparts electronic conductivity to the flux and thereby decreases the faradaic current efficiency. In this work, a new approach for removing soluble magnesium in the flux is explored. Periodic shorting is performed between the anode and the cathode of SOM electrolysis cell. During shorting, soluble magnesium in the flux is oxidized to magnesium oxide. This significantly reduces the electronic current in the flux and therefore keeps the faradaic current efficiency high during SOM electrolysis. Electronic transference numbers in the flux are measured to assess the soluble magnesium concentration. Potentiodynamic scan results also confirm the feasibility of shorting the electrodes to remove soluble magnesium.

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Acknowledgments

This material is based on work supported by the Department of Energy under Award No. DE-EE0005547. The authors thank Mr. Robert Sjostrom and Mr. Alexander Kithes for assistance with machining experimental setups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    **aofei Guan (Postdoctoral Research Associate) & Uday B. Pal (Professor)

  2. Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Brookline, MA, 02446, USA

    Shizhao Su (Graduate Student) & Uday B. Pal (Professor)

  3. Infinium Inc., Natick, MA, 01760, USA

    Adam C. Powell (Chief Technology Officer)

Authors
  1. **aofei Guan
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  2. Shizhao Su
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  3. Uday B. Pal
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Correspondence to Uday B. Pal.

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Manuscript submitted May 22, 2014.

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Guan, X., Su, S., Pal, U.B. et al. Periodic Shorting of SOM Cell to Remove Soluble Magnesium in Molten Flux and Improve Faradaic Efficiency. Metall Mater Trans B 45, 2138–2144 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-014-0142-8

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