Scientists at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SAS run a unique laboratory
Scientists from the Department of molten systems of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SAS are examining industrially interesting melts of inorganic salts, especially fluorides. They run a globally unique laboratory that provides the infrastructure for the measurement of multiple chemical properties of these melts in one place. The obtained results serve as comparative standards for laboratories around the world.
The Department of molten systems was established on the premises of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SAS more than 50 years ago. The reason was the scientific needs of the then rapidly developing domestic electro-metallurgical industry and aluminium production. "The priority topic of our research today is fluoride melts and their physico-chemical, electro-chemical and thermo-chemical properties," says Miroslav Boča, director of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SAS.
"Fluoride melts are unique in that they are the only ones that dissolve metal oxides from which pure metals are produced, such as aluminium and magnesium, which are irreplaceable in all industries," explains František Šimko from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SAS.
The results of scientists´ research from this department can contribute to the reduction of CO2 production in the industrial production of metals: “At present, we focus on the development of new technologies for metal production, without CO2 production, following the concept of the so-called green chemistry,” adds František Šimko.
“Green chemistry is waste-free chemistry. It is related to the circular economy, when we produce commodities or energy without burdening the environment,” says Michal Korenko from the Department of molten systems IICH SAS.
Melts of inorganic salts are also used in technologies which may be critical for the concept of the so-called Hydrogen economy. "These are, for instance, nuclear reactors of the so-called 4th generation based on molten salts, as well as high-temperature heat transfer systems for solar or nuclear heat sources and various types of systems for storing heat and electricity, including high-temperature batteries and fuel cells,” added Michal Korenko.
The department cooperates with prominent industrial partners and with leading scientific-research institutes in the USA, France, Norway, Russia and the Czech Republic.
You can find more information in the attached video.
Edited by: Department for Communication and Media SAS
Foto: Katarína Gáliková
Video: Martin Bystriansky