Researcher preparing x-ray diffraction machine.

Using x-ray diffraction to solve minerals processing problems

Investigation of scale formation on inert anodes using tomographic energy-dispersive diffraction imaging (TEDDI)

Australia's Synchrotron.

Electrowinning of light metals traditionally uses carbon anodes which are consumed during operation and produce the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Researchers are investigating replacing carbon anodes with inert anodes, which would not require such frequent replacement and which evolve oxygen during reaction rather than carbon dioxide.

One obstacle to the successful use of inert anodes is the formation of scales on the anode surface which limit its operational lifespan. 

The Minerals x-ray diffraction (XRD) group have been using a hard x-ray, synchrotron-based diffraction technique which allows data collection from the anode’s surface while it is still located inside the electrochemical cell. 

Preliminary experiments have demonstrated the applicability of the technique to the characterisation of anode scales. Researchers intend to extend this work to collecting data during operation of the cell, that is at around 950 °C in a molten salt electrolyte.

Read more about CSIRO’s Materials characterisation for mineral processing and metal production overview.