Direct determination of the NaF/AlF3 molar ratio by Raman spectroscopy in NaF-AlF3-CaF2 melts at 1000 °C.
For the last 40 years, Raman spectroscopy has been very useful in investigating the structure of corrosive molten salts, such as the cryolite-based melts widely used as electrolyte in the Hall-Heroult process. Even if this process remains the most economically efficient for metallic aluminum electro-production, it suffers from a high energy loss, which is dependent on the melt composition. Therefore, controlling the chemical composition of the electrolyte is essential. The present paper proposes to apply Raman spectroscopy for the direct determination of the NaF-AlF3 molar ratio in NaF-AlF3-CaF2-based melts. Despite the experimental difficulties, a calibration curve based on equilibria taking place in the melt has been developed and the procedure has been successfully compared to industrial samples of known compositions. The possible exportation of the laboratory scale procedure to an industrial environment application for the control of the Hall-Heroult process is finally discussed.
Bath temperature and AlF3 control of an aluminium electrolysis cell
Abstract While the control of alumina in an aluminium electrolysis cell is considered mature, the control of the energy input and the mass of AlF 3 is done in almost as many ways as there are aluminium smelters. By designing a control system based on plant and process knowledge, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the variation of the bath temperature and the mass of aluminium fluoride in an aluminium electrolysis cell. By reducing the variations it is easier to achieve the desired target and therefore more stable operation and reduced energy consumption without loss of production.
Electrochemical detection of copper(II) at a gold electrode modified with a self-assembled monolayer of penicillamine
A penicillamine (PCA) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was prepared on a gold electrode. It has been found that the modified electrode exhibited a selective response to copper ions. As demonstrated by cyclic voltammetric experiments, the SAM-based electrode showed an attractive ability to preconcentrate efficiently traces of copper(II) from solutions. Under optimum conditions, the anodic peak current was proportional to the concentration of Cu(II) in the range from 8.0 × 10−7 to 1.0 × 10−4 M with a detection limit of 4.0 × 10−7 M. Moreover, this modified gold electrode is also characterized by excellent repeatability, showing a relative standard deviation of 3.2% for nine successive measurements of 1.0 × 10−5 M Cu(II). The PCA/Au SAM gold electrode was used for the determination of Cu(II) in a tap water sample and the results showed a good agreement with the data obtained by atomic emission spectrometry.