Abstract:Some important interfacial phenomena in aluminium electrolysis, such as wettability of anode and cathode, initiation of anode effect and metal dissolution in molten electrolyte have been dealt with. They have significant influences on the energy consumption and current efficiency in aluminium production. The primary reason for the initiation of anode effect may be the anodic repulsion to the molten electrolyte, and the direct reason may be due to an electrostatic attraction of gases by the anode at high anodic potential.

Key words: aluminium electrolysis molten electrolyte carbon electrodes