Electrochemical decomposition of complexes of zirconium or hafnium

This patent describes an improvement in a method for separating hafnium from zirconium where a complex of zirconium and hafnium chlorides and phosphorus oxychloride is prepared from zirconium-hafnium chloride and the complex is subjected to a distillation to produce a hafnium chloride enriched stream of complex and a zirconium enriched chloride stream of complex. The improvement comprising: electrochemical breaking the zirconium or hafnium chloride complex from the distillation in a chloride or fluoride and chloride molten salt bath to produce the metal or a chloride oof zirconium or hafnium