Fig. 2. Bipolar electrolytic cell. viscosity of molten silicates have created problems and prompted studies of various fluxing additions to the melt. This modification, of course, negates the reagentless advantage of the direct electrolysis route and requires consideration of extraction and recycling of fluxing reagents. The chief objections are corrosion or durability of anodes used for oxygen recovery and purification and separation of cathodic reduction products which are likely to consist of iron, iron-silicon-aluminum alloy with minor amounts of additional impurities. 5. PROPOSED PROCESS This paper describes a conceptual process scheme for obtaining oxygen, aluminum, silicon, iron, and titanium from anorthite ore. The lunar environment offers the following opportunities: 1. The abundant solar energy can be converted to electricity to operate electrolytic cells for producing an aluminum alloy and pure oxygen from lunar ores. 2. The complete vacuum (10 14 Torr) offers a chance to vacuum purify and separate aluminum, iron, silicon, and titanium metals from aluminum-silicon-iron-titanium alloys produced in the electrolytic cell. 3. By using suitable optics, solar energy can generate the high temperatures needed for vacuum fractional distillation.
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