Electrolytic smelting of lunar rock for oxygen, iron, and silicon

Details Electrolytic smelting of lunar rock for oxygen, iron, and silicon Electrolytic smelting of lunar rock for oxygen, iron, and silicon

Sep 1992

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992lbsa.conf..411h&link_type=abstract

In NASA. Johnson Space Center, The Second Conference on Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century, Volume 2 p 411-422

Computer Science

Electrolytic Cells, Iron, Lunar Maria, Lunar Rocks, Lunar Soil, Melts (Crystal Growth), Oxygen, Silicon, Smelting, Anions, Conductivity, Electrodes, Electrolytes, Oxidation, Reaction Kinetics, Silicates

Scientific paper

Preliminary studies of the electrochemical properties of silicate melts such as those available from heating of lunar mare soils indicate that conductivities are high enough for design of a practical electrolytic cell. The nature and kinetics of the electrode reactions, which involve reduction of Fe(++) and Si(IV) and oxidation of silicate anions as the primary, product-forming reactions, are also satisfactory. A survey of the efficiencies for production (amount of product for a given current) of O2, Fe0, and Si0 as functions of potential and of electrolyte composition indicate that conditions can be chosen to yield high production efficiencies. We also conclude that electronic conductivity does not occur to a significant extent. Based on these data, a cell with electrodes of 30 sq m in area operating between 1 and 5V with a current between 1.6 and 3.5(10)5 A for a mean power requirement of 0.54 MW and total energy use of approximately 13 MWhr per 24-hr day would produce 1 ton of O2, 0.81 ton of Fe0, 0.65 ton of Si0 (as Fe0-Si0 alloy), and about 3.5 tons of silicate melt of altered composition per 24 hr. Adjustable distance between electrodes could offer flexibility with respect to feedstock and power source.

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