Thermodynamic modeling of the processes of purification of primary aluminum from vanadium impurities

This article discusses the interaction of chemical elements in the three-component Al-V-B system. Vanadium reduces electrical conductivity in primary aluminum, which requires its reduction during aluminum electrolysis to values less than 0.02%. In order to reduce the concentration of vanadium impurities, thermodynamic calculations were carried out for the reactions of separation of the metallic phase of aluminum and impurities of vanadium intermetallic compounds through the use of a boron-containing flux. The calculation of thermodynamic parameters was carried out in HSC Chemistry 9.0. for AlB2 and VB2 compounds, the chemical reaction AlB2 + V = VB2 + Al within the operating temperatures of electrolysis and casting of primary aluminum of 650–950°С and the conditions of immersion of boron-containing flux into the melt to a ladle depth of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 m, i.e. within the pressure range of 102.39–148.99 kPa. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the Gibbs energy (ΔGT) values in the entire range of operating temperatures of the electrolysis and casting of primary aluminum for VB2 are significantly lower than AlB2, therefore, they will be formed predominantly in this temperature range. The order of stability also suggests that vanadium can be easily removed from aluminum melts by adding boron. The results obtained allow us to conclude that chemical reactions of primary aluminum purification from vanadium impurities can occur due to boron additives.