China Nonferrous Metallurgy

The ionic liquids formed by 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazole chloride (EMIC) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazole chloride (BMIC) with aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) are the most promising ionic liquids for electrolytic aluminum. In this paper, linear voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, constant-voltage electrolysis, constant-current electrolysis and other electrochemical experiments are used to compare the anodic dissolution of aluminum in acidic AlCl₃-EMIC and AlCl₃-BMIC ionic liquids under stirring and non-stirring conditions, in order to screen out a better electrolyte system. The effects of stirring, temperature, current density, potential and other process parameters on the electrolytic process are investigated to provide basic data for industrial scale-up.