Abstract
The reduction and dissolution mechanism of Fe3O4 in NaCl-CaCl2 melts system are analyzed by thermodynamics. The electrochemical methods of Fe3O4 in NaCl-CaCl2 melts are studied by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and open-circuit chronopotentiometry. The effects of temperature on reduction potential and peak current are investigated. The diffusion coefficients of Fe3+ and Fe2+ at different temperatures are calculated, and the activation energy E is obtained. Electrolytic products are obtained after 10 min of potentiostatic electrolysis in the melts of NaCl-CaCl2-Fe3O4 at 1073 K and 1.9 V. The results of XRD show that no other compounds are formed in the melts, indicating that Fe3O4 do not react chemically in the NaCl-CaCl2 melts system at 973 K, which is consistent with the theoretical analysis. Fe3O4 is reduced by two-step quasi-reversible reaction in the melts of NaCl-CaCl2 at 973 K to obtain iron: Fe3+ → Fe2+ → Fe. The two-step reaction is controlled by diffusion. The diffusion coefficients are 4.53 × 10–6 cm2·s–1 and 1.17 × 10–6 cm2·s–1, respectively. Fe3O4 is reduced in two steps. The potential shifts with temperature and decreases with the increase of the proportion of Fe3O4. The activation energies of the two-step reaction are 62.38 kJ·mol–1 and 77.52 kJ·mol–1. A deposited layer of uniform distribution, high coverage and dense iron is prepared.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51674120, 51874141), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (No. E2016209163, E2018209266), and the High School Science and Technology Research Project of Hebei Province (No. BJ2017050). The authors gratefully acknowledged the financial support from NSF and the University of Alabama, AL, USA.
References
Caban, K., M. Donten, and Z. Stojek. 2004. “Electroformation of Microlayers of Ionic Liquids in Undiluted Nitromethane and Its Homologues. Unusual Oscillations behind the Range of Limiting Steady-State Current.” The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 108: 1153–59.10.1021/jp036637xSearch in Google Scholar
Feng, H. X., J. C. Liu, D. Y. Zhang, H. Zheng, and J. Chen. 2011. “Study on Synthesis Surface Modification and Application of Magnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles.” Applied Chemical Industry 40: 1248–53.Search in Google Scholar
Hu, X. F., and X. Xu. 2006. “Preparation of Tantalum by Electrodeoxidation in a CaCl2-NaCl Melt.” Acta Metallurgica Sinica 42: 63–67.Search in Google Scholar
Kekesi, T., K. Mimura, and M. Isshiki. 2002. “Ultra-high Purification of Iron by Anion Exchange in Hydrochloric Acid Solutions.” Hydrometallurgy 63: 1–13.10.1016/S0304-386X(01)00208-0Search in Google Scholar
Li, G. L., F. Tian, L. Li, W. H. Tian, and G. X. Li. 2015. “Application of Hydrogen Plasma Arc Melting Technique on Refining Refractory Metals.” Rare Metal Materials and Engineering 44: 775–80.Search in Google Scholar
Li, M., B. Liu, N. Ji, Y. Sun, W. Han, T. Jiang, S. M. Peng, Y. D. Yan, and M. L. Zhang. 2016. “Electrochemical Behaviour of LaCl3, at Tungsten and Aluminium Cathodes in LiCl–KCl Eutectic Melt.” Electrochimica Acta 193: 54–62.10.1016/j.electacta.2016.02.020Search in Google Scholar
Liu, Q., and S. Chen. 2013. “Research on Preparation of High Purity Iron by Electrolytic Process.” Hydrometallurgy Chinese 32: 105–08.Search in Google Scholar
Liu, W., S. J. Xiao, and Z. Wang. 2017. “Electrochemical Behavior of Cr(II) Ion in NaCl-KCl Melt at W Electrode.” Chinese Journal of Proceedings Engineering 17: 119–22.Search in Google Scholar
Ma, C. N., X. J. Wang, G. H. Li, M. C. Li, and S. Chen. 2007. “Electroreduction Characteristics of Nitromethane in Ionic Liquid BMImBF4.” Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica 23: 1719–22.10.3866/PKU.WHXB20071112Search in Google Scholar
Sahoo, D. K., M. Anitha, S. Mondal, and D. K. Singh. 2017. “Taguchi Optimisation of Process Parameters for Electrowinning of Praseodymium Metal in Molten Salt Electrolysis.” Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy IMM Transactions 126: 231–37.10.1080/03719553.2016.1234813Search in Google Scholar
Sun, H., L. J. Wang, L. Zhang, Y. H. Luo, and Z. G. Xu. 2009. “Preparation of High Purity Iron.” Metallic Functional Materials 16: 42–45.Search in Google Scholar
Suzuki, R. O., K. Ono, and K. Teranuma. 2003. “Calciothermic Reduction of Titanium Oxide and In-situ, Electrolysis in Molten CaCl2.” Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B 34: 287–95.10.1007/s11663-003-0074-1Search in Google Scholar
Tang, D., H. Yin, W. Xiao, W. Xiao, H. Zhu, X. H. Mao, and D. H. Wang. 2013. “Reduction Mechanism and Carbon Content Investigation for Electrolytic Production of Iron from Solid Fe2O3, in Molten K2CO3-Na2CO3, Using an Inert Anode.” Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 689: 109–16.10.1016/j.jelechem.2012.11.027Search in Google Scholar
Tang, H., and B. Pesic. 2014. “Reduction Mechanism and Carbon Content Investigation for Electrolytic Production of Iron from Solid Fe2O3, in Molten K2CO3-Na2CO3, Using an Inert Anode.” Electrochimica Acta 119: 120–30.10.1016/j.jelechem.2012.11.027Search in Google Scholar
Tladi, M. N. A., R. Maloma, B. A. Obadele, and P. Olubambi. 2018. “Electrochemical Characteristic of Cathodically Protected Mild Steel in 3.5% Nacl and 1 M H2SO4.” IEEE 91–94.10.1109/ICMIMT.2018.8340427Search in Google Scholar
Vandarkuzhali, S., N. Gogoi, S. Ghosh, B. P. Reddy, and K. Nagarajan. 2012. “Electrochemical Behaviour of LaCl3 at Tungsten and Aluminium Cathodes in LiCl-KCl Eutectic Melt.” Electrochimica Acta 59: 245–55.10.1016/j.electacta.2011.10.062Search in Google Scholar
Wang, J., Z. S. Hua, H. Ma, Y. Q. Fan, and L. Wang. 2017. “Research Progress on Preparation of Rare Earth Magnesium Alloys by Molten Salt Electrolysis.” Chinese Rare Earth 38: 100–13.Search in Google Scholar
Wang, J. W., Z. P. Zhao, and X. L. Jin. 2010. “Research Methods of Primary Crystal Temperature of Bath and Their Status.” Light Metall 67: 26–31.Search in Google Scholar
Wang, S. L., and X. Y. Chen. 2012. “Study on the Electro-Refining Silicon in Molten Saly CaCl2-NaCl-CaO.” Acta Metallurgica Sinica 48: 183–86.10.3724/SP.J.1037.2011.00547Search in Google Scholar
Wang, X., Y. C. Cui, and H. W. Xie. 2008. “Preparation and Characterization of CaB6 by Molten Saly Electrolysis.” Acta Metallurgica Sinica 44: 1243–46.Search in Google Scholar
Wang, Y. Q., L. Li, J. X. Zhou, X. J. Li, and H. Z. Wang. 2008. “Development of Electromagnetic Levitation Melting and its Application in Analysis of Gases in Metals.” Metallurgica Analytica 28: 16–23.Search in Google Scholar
Wei, S. Q., M. L. Zhang, W. Han, Y. D. Yan, and B. Zhang. 2011. “Study on Electrochemical Codeposition of Mg-Li-Gd Alloys From Chloride Melts.” Acta Metallurgica Sinica 47: 173–78.Search in Google Scholar
Weng, W., M. Wang, and X. Gong. 2017. “Electrochemical Reduction Behavior of Soluble CaTiO3 in Na3AlF6-AlF3 Melt for the Preparation of Metal Titanium.” Journal of the Electrochemical Society164: 551–57.10.1149/2.0611709jesSearch in Google Scholar
Weng, W., M. Y. Wang, X. Gong, Z. Wang, D. Wang, and Z. C. Guo. 2016a. “Direct Electro-Deposition of Metallic Chromium from K2CrO4, in the Equimolar CaCl2-KCl Molten Salt and its Reduction Mechanism.” Electrochimica Acta 212: 162–70.10.1016/j.electacta.2016.06.142Search in Google Scholar
Weng, W., M. Y. Wang, X. Z. Gong, Z. Wang, and Z. C. Guo. 2016b. “Thermodynamic Analysis on the Direct Preparation of Metallic Vanadium from NaVO3 by Molten Salt Electrolysis.” Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering 24: 671–76.10.1016/j.cjche.2016.01.006Search in Google Scholar
Xiao, S., W. Liu, and L. Gao. 2016. “Cathodic Process of Manganese (II) in NaCl-KCl Melt.” Ionics 22: 1–4.10.1007/s11581-016-1778-ySearch in Google Scholar
Yuan, Z., Y. L. Cui, M. F. Shen, Y. H. Qiang, and Q. C. Zhuang. 2012. “Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of LiTi2(PO4)3/C Composite Cathode for Lithium Ion Batteries.” Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica 28: 1169–76.10.3866/PKU.WHXB201203012Search in Google Scholar
Zhang, L. S., H. Li, H. X. Zhang, and J. L. Liang. 2018. “Study on Primary Crystallization Temperature of NaCl-KCl-NaF-Fe3O4 Molten Salt.” Nonferrous Metals(Extractive Metallurgy) 65: 13–15.Search in Google Scholar
© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston