A new electrolytic magnesium production process

In this article, existing magnesium chloride electrolysis and thermal magnesium oxide reduction processes for producing magnesium are described and their limitations are pointed out. The theoretical background of a patented new process is outlined. In this process, magnesium oxide is dissolved in a rare-earth-chloride-containing electrolyte and electrolyzed to produce magnesium and oxygen like that of alumina in the Hall-Héroult process. It is also shown that the efficiency of the existing magnesium chloride electrolysis process should be improved greatly by adding a rare-earth chloride. In both cases, the magnesium produced is expected to be free from detrimental iron, nickel, copper, and boron impurities.