Anode Effect In Neodymium Oxide Electrolysis

In the electrolysis of neodymium oxide from a molten fluoride electrolyte, anode effects may occur at the carbon anodes, interfering with smooth cell operation. In laboratory experiments, we attempted to circumvent this problem by selecting electrolytes with a high oxide concentration, possibly at relatively low rare earth content, but cathodic deposition was not satisfactory. A regime at higher cell voltage was discovered to yield good cell performance, but evolution of considerable amounts of fluorocarbon compounds suggested that a reactive treatment of the off-gases would be necessary for environmental acceptability. Subsequent experimentation at low cell voltage revealed conditions for satisfactory operation without occurrence of anode effects and without formation of any CF4 or C2F8.