Reduction of cerium oxide into metal

[sugarflywings]

One method that i found was by electrochemical reduction. Is there any other ways?

[Caesius]

One method that i found was by electrochemical reduction. Is there any other ways?

 

If you could find a more active metal than cerium (if I could make a guess, aluminum or magnesium), you might be able to come up with a thermite-like reaction reducing the cerium.

 

CeO_x(s) + Al_(s) => Ce_(l) + Al₂O₃ (unbalanced)

 

OR

 

CeO_x(s) + Mg_(s) => Ce_(l) + MgO (unbalanced)

 

My best guess is that magnesium is more likely to work because it is a slightly stronger reducer than aluminum. You will have to do some research and see whether or not magnesium and aluminum are stronger reducers than cerium, I couldn't find out right away. If they are, then I believe this may work a little like a thermite reaction.

[elementcollector1]

If you could find a more active metal than cerium (if I could make a guess, aluminum or magnesium), you might be able to come up with a thermite-like reaction reducing the cerium.

 

CeO_x(s) + Al_(s) => Ce_(l) + Al₂O₃ (unbalanced)

 

OR

 

CeO_x(s) + Mg_(s) => Ce_(l) + MgO (unbalanced)

 

My best guess is that magnesium is more likely to work because it is a slightly stronger reducer than aluminum. You will have to do some research and see whether or not magnesium and aluminum are stronger reducers than cerium, I couldn't find out right away. If they are, then I believe this may work a little like a thermite reaction.

 

There's a thread on this already. It has some useful stuff, use the search engine.

[chilled_fluorine]

Have any sodium metal? Otherwise, just do the same for (almost) anything: mix it with magnesium and light it on fire.

[elementcollector1]

Have any sodium metal? Otherwise, just do the same for (almost) anything: mix it with magnesium and light it on fire.

 

Magnesium is not reactive enough for cerium; I tried this with stochiometric quantities, and all I got was an odd green powder (this was white ceria, very pure, too. Not mine, though). Unfortunately, I did not have access to argon at the time, so it could be that all the cerium produced immediately burned away.

I would suggest lithium, or as you said, sodium. Potassium is overkill... but worth a shot if the others fail.