Electrochemical co-deposition of Erbium and Ytterbium in molten LiF-CaF2: An original way for lanthanides extraction on inert electrode
Résumé
Electrochemical study of Er(III)/Er and Yb(III)/Yb systems was independently investigated in molten LiF-CaF2 on inert electrode at 840 °C using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. Experimental results showed that two different behaviours were observed: Er(III) was reduced into metal in a one-step and diffusion controlled process and Yb(III) was first reduced into Yb(II) then into Yb. The electrochemical study of LiF-CaF2 containing both Er(III) and Yb(III) on inert Mo electrode highlighted a co-deposition of Er and Yb leading to Er-Yb surface alloys formation. Alloys formation was evidenced using open-circuit chronopotentiometry and SEM-EDS. Finally, co-extraction of Er and Yb from molten salt was carried out by electrolysis with high extraction efficiency (> 99.5%). These results pave the way to the Lanthanides extraction without involving cathode material nor another ion as for reactive electrodeposition.
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