Two Electrode Electrochemical Purification Cell for Molten Salt

Abstract

Methods and systems for removing impurities from molten salts using an electrochemical purification system having two electrodes. When a voltage is applied to the two-electrode electrochemical purification system, ions from a counter electrode may react with impurities in the molten salt to form materials which can deposit on the working electrode and out of the molten salt. The systems and methods may be more effective at removing impurities than traditional methods and produce less harmful byproducts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for purifying a molten salt, the system comprising:
 a tank for holding the molten salt;   a plurality of electrodes positioned within the tank and consisting of:
 a working electrode, and 
 a counter electrode; and 
   a voltage source; wherein:   the voltage source is configured to provide a voltage to the working electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the working electrode comprises at least one of tungsten, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, or nickel.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the counter electrode comprises magnesium (Mg).   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the voltage is less than 5 V.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the counter electrode is configured to release an ion into the molten salt.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the ion is a magnesium ion (Mg+).   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the molten salt is configured to react with the ion to form a mass on the working electrode.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the mass comprises a hydroxide.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the hydroxide is magnesium hydroxide (MgOH + ).   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the molten salt comprises a chloride salt. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the molten salt has a temperature, and   the temperature is less than approximately 300° C.   
     
     
         12 . A method for purifying a molten salt, the method comprising:
 placing the molten salt in a tank containing a plurality of electrodes;   applying a voltage;   collecting a mass; wherein:   the plurality of electrodes consists of:
 a working electrode, and 
 a counter electrode; and 
   the applying comprises applying the voltage to the working electrode.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the working electrode comprises at least one of tungsten, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, or nickel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the counter electrode comprises magnesium (Mg).   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the voltage is less than 5 V.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 as a result of the applying, the counter electrode releases an ion into the molten salt.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the ion is a magnesium ion (Mg+).   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 as a result of the applying, the molten salt reacts with the ion to form a mass on the working electrode.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the mass comprises magnesium hydroxide (MgOH + ).   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the molten salt comprises a chloride salt.