Course content

The course includes fundamental theory for industrial electrowinning in molten salts, with special emphasis on aluminium and magnesium. TMT5100 "Electrolysis of Light Metals 2" will cover raw materials and process technology especially for the aluminium process.
Topics:
- Phase diagrams.
- Electrolyte structure, thermodynamics.
- Physicochemical properties.
- Electrode reactions.
- Current efficiency.
- Metal solubility.
- Inert electrodes.

Learning outcome

The aim is to give a fundamental theoretical understanding of the principles for the production of aluminium and magnesium by molten salts electrolysis.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and group discussions depending on the number of students.
Voluntary exercises.

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge of chemistry and electrochemistry.

Course materials

Parts of the following books and papers: J. Thonstad, P. Fellner, G.M. Haarberg, J. Hives, H. Kvande and Å. Sterten: Aluminium Electrolysis. Fundamentals of the Hall-Heroult Process, 3rd edition, Aluminium Verlag, Dusseldorf, 2001. J. Thonstad: Aluminum Electrolysis, Electrolyte and Electrochemistry, in Advances in Molten Salt Chemistry 6. ed. G. Mamantov, Elsevier 1987. G.J. Kipouros, D.R. Sadoway: The Chemistry and Electrochemistry of Magnesium Production, in Advances in Molten Salt Chemistry 6. ed.: G. Mamantov, Elsevier 1987. N. Høy Pettersen, T. Aune, K. Andreassen, D. Øymo, T. Haugerød, O. Skåne: Magnesium, Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. 15A, 559-580, VCH, Weinheim 1990. Also other papers or book chapters will be included.

Credit reductions