Electrochemical Synthesis of Metal Alkoxides. Prospects of Commercial Alkoxides Production

A production method of Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Y, Sn, Cu, Ge, Mo, W and some other metals alkoxides at their anode polarization in alcohols (methanol, ethanol, i-propanol, butanol, methoxy-ethanol) in the presence of an electroconductive additive has been developed. As a result of theoretical and experimental studies and engineering development, a universal low-waste technological processes of the electrochemical production of the above high purity alkoxides have been established. Metal efficiency coefficient in the electrosynthesis process is 0.85-0.90, current efficiency is 75-80%, and specific power consumption is within 5-10 kW-h/kg range. The total of impurities provided by this technology does not exceed 10-3% mass. The developed electrochemical technology has been realized at a pilot-commercial scale at AO NIPIM plant (Russia, Tula) in order to manufacture a high purity titanium tetrabutoxide at 1.5-2.0 t/year plant operation the actual advantages of the electrochemical technology comparing to a traditional chemical one have been revealed. A considerable simplification of the developed electrochemical technology has been achieved at the anode polarization of metals in the methoxyethanol due to elimination from the diagram scope of units for the alkoxides separation from after electrolysis solutions and recovery of unreacted raw components.