ELECTROLYTE FOR ELECTROEXTRACTION OF ZINC WITH ZINC REVERSE DISSOLUTION INHIBITOR

摘要

The invention relates to an electrolyte, comprising zinc reverse dissolution inhibitor and its use in the process of electroextraction of zinc. The electroextraction of zinc is an industrial hydrometallurgical method for extraction of zinc. The inhibitor which is included in the composition of the electrolyte is used to prevent undesired and disadvantageous reverse dissolution of zinc during electroextraction, which is observed in the presence of certain metal ions (for example Sb3+, Ni2+, Ge4+) in the electrolyte. The main electrolyte contains zinc sulphate, sulfuric acid and manganese sulphate and the inhibitor is an aqueous polyaniline dispersion. In fact, the inhibitor prevents the reverse dissolution of zinc even at high concentrations of other metal ions. The inhibitor is non-toxic, non-volatile and stable under the conditions of exploitation and its optimal concentrations are very low. The use of this electrolyte for electroextraction of zinc improves the cathode utilization of the current and results in high-quality zinc and simultaneously reduces the requirements for preliminary purification of the feedstuff. The electrolyte could be used in existing technical equipment and does not require any additional process steps for purifying the exhausted electrolyte.