Problems of low temperature electrolyte of potassium cryolite？

Problems of low temperature electrolyte of potassium cryolite？

One of the problems of potassium cryolite electrolyte is its low electrical conductivity, resulting in a large ohmic drop. Although it can be compensated by adding additives such as LiF and reducing the electrode distance, the additives can reduce the solubility of alumina and increase the primary crystal temperature while improving the conductivity, and the reduction of the electrode distance depends on the industrial application of the wettable cathode.

In addition, K+ is enriched in the cathode during low temperature electrolysis, and the molecular ratio of electrolyte near the cathode increases, resulting in the phenomenon of cathode crusts. In the electrolytic process with potassium cryolite as electrolyte, the common phenomenon is that the cell voltage is high and fluctuates greatly and the current efficiency is low. The corrosion of inert anode and side lining materials by molten salt of potassium cryolite is also serious, so it is necessary to find suitable inert anode and side lining materials.

Although the research of potassium cryolite electrolyte has been paid more attention, it is far from enough compared with that of sodium cryolite.