Suiltible catalyst or alternative for obtaining potassium

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The discussion focuses on the challenges of obtaining pure potassium from potassium chloride through electrolysis, with the user reporting no reaction using a car battery or a lithium-polymer charger. Suggestions for catalysts and alternative power sources are sought, including the feasibility of using a high-voltage neon sign transformer (NST). The conversation also touches on non-aqueous electro-refining processes and the potential for recovering potassium while producing aluminum chloride. The user is looking for simpler methods or improvements to their current setup, given school restrictions on lab access and equipment. Overall, the thread highlights the complexities of electrolysis and the need for practical solutions in potassium extraction.
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i have a whole bunch of potassium chloride and will be getting more soon.
ive been attempting to obtain pure potassium by electrolysing the molten potassium chloride.

so far ihave tried using a car battery, 12v-45a and a 15v-u/k amperage lithium-polymer battery charger(which I've also used to electrolise other things) but I am not getting any reaction, its not even conducting.

i was wondering, what could i use a catalyst for this set up?
alternatively, what else could i use? any other more suitible DC power source?
Is there any realistic way to rectify a 15000v-30ma nst?(that would be perfect)
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Potassium has been cathodically deposited in a propylene carbonate electrolyte with concurrent dissolution of aluminium. Starting with an AlCl3-free electrolyte, changes in the composition and conductivity of the electrolyte, as well as those of the electrode potentials, were measured as a function of charge passed. Anodic and cathodic current efficiencies were both close to 100%. The observed behaviour is consistent with the overall reaction stoichiometry This reaction and its analogues for other alkali metals may conceivably form the basis of practical processes at ambient temperatures for the recovery of alkali metals from their chlorides with concurrent production of aluminium chloride.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/r88vw245h2866lj2/

To recover K for KCl, one would use a non-acqueous electro-refining or electro-winning process. Above is one example. Off-hand, I don't remember the standard process, but I'll look into it.
 
thanks for looking into it... as for the link, at this time of night confuses me, i can't picture the set up here, is this still electrolysis only using an aluminium anode? also, what exactly is it instructing i do with the electrolite?

what other methods are there other than electrolysis to obtain potassium from potassium chloride?(prefferably something simple that doesn't require much fancy lab apparatus, my school doesn't let students use the lab unless it is for something syllibus related and they most certainly don't let us get near alkali metals) if there are no other methods then again i ask, what could i do to get my current set up to work?
At my immediate disposal i have:
.KCl
.12v 44a car battery
.15v li-po charger
.15kv 30ma NST
.smaller transformers with unknown values(probably 12v-120v)
.carbon electrodes(pencil graphite)
.yes, lots of aluminium
.basic apparattus, stands,test tubes,bunsen burner etc.
i also got a lot of junk lying around so if i need something else(non-related to the reaction it'self) i don't have i could probably improvise
 

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