Effect of electrolytic composition on current efficiency and alloy composition in electrowinning of Pr-Mg alloys using chloride electrolyte

Praseodymium-Magnesium (Pr-Mg) alloys of different compositions were prepared by molten salt electrolysis using PrCl3-MgCl2-KCl electrolyte. The effect of electrolytic composition on current efficiency and alloy composition was investigated in this study. The different phases of Pr-Mg alloys obtained from varying the composition of electrolyte were characterised by X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy techniques. It is evident from this study that both phase and composition of Pr-Mg alloy can be controlled by varying the concentration of PrCl3 and MgCl2 in the electrolyte. The operational parameters were standardised to get maximum current efficiency and yield. A maximum current efficiency of 85% and yield of 89% was obtained by operating the cell under optimum conditions.