A laboratory study of partial anode effects during aluminium electrowinning

The behaviour of graphitic anodes during electrolysis in low-alumina cryolite melts was investigated. The experimental setup consisted of two anodes in separate electrolyte compartments connected in parallel with a single combined cathode. The results show that the anodes to some extent will vary their current uptake based on their resistance towards reaction. The results also indicate that PFC production at normal industrial electrolysis potentials will give a cooling of the anode surface, even with slight elevation of the voltage as the PFC producing reactions have a much higher isothermal potential.