Semi-Pilot Plant experiment on production of Electrolytic Manganese

Work on the electrolytic production of manganese with the ultimate object of developing the project into a full pilot plant was taken up at the National Metallurgical Laboratory in 1949. Intensive research on the subject gave rise to several reports, paper and a patent. The method was based on Laboratory scale experiments involving the production of about 30 gms of metallic manganese per experiment. In these experiments, the energy consumed in for producing one pound of metal was found to be 3.2 kwh and the purity of the product was above 99.9%. Considering the importance of the manganese industry In India and the hopeful features of the methods studied in this Laboratory, the C.S.I.R. directed that the electrolytic process should be developed on a semi-pilot plant scale with the ultimate purpose of commercial exploitation. Accordingly the construction of a suitable plant was taken up.