About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Magnesium Technology 2027
|
| Presentation Title |
Scaling Hall-Héroult Compatible Magnesium Primary Production |
| Author(s) |
Daniel McArthur Sehar, Maggie Mannion, Jinsei Murakawa, Ayesha Naveed, Adele Aldridge, Anna Barrasso, Joshua Bornfriend, Kaden Ly, Adam C. Powell, Travis Hampton |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Daniel McArthur Sehar |
| Abstract Scope |
A new primary process for magnesium production uses MgO electrolysis with a dense reactive liquid metal cathode to make a magnesium alloy, then efficient continuous distillation to separate the magnesium metal product from the alloy. High cathode alloy density, low magnesium activity, and high current density make this process compatible with Hall-Héroult aluminum smelting infrastructure, including electrolysis pots themselves. Developments presented here include electrolysis at 500 A with carbon anodes and quasi-continuous distiller operation. MgO solubility in the MgF₂-CaF₂ bath is sufficient to support continuous anode current density of 1 A/cm², with anode effect around 1.5 A/cm². MgO dissolution rate is sufficient to support continuous feeding. Alloy distillation experiments use continuous melting to feed the evaporator, and a heated outlet to top the condenser. Batch distillation experiments validate a dynamic equilibrium model, with evaporator and condenser liquid-vapor interfaces at equilibrium, and rate limited by heat transfer. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Magnesium, Electrometallurgy, Extraction and Processing |