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Abstract

Provided herein are methods for extracting and separating metals from a mixture of metal oxides comprising: disposing a cathode comprising the mixture of metal oxides, a reducing electrode, and an anode in a solvent comprising a mixture of molten metal hydroxide salts; applying an electrical potential to a cathode, thereby reducing the mixture of metal oxides and forming a mixture of metals; selectively dissolving one or more metal ion species from the mixture of metals into the dried solvent; and applying a potential to the reducing electrode present in the dried solvent to reduce the dissolved metal ion species from the dried solvent to a respective pure metal or mixed metal.

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First Claim