Sequential electrolytic metal refining - e.g. copper, nickel or zinc by immersing unrefined electrodes in an acidified aq. soln of e.g. copper sulphate

摘要

In the process (a) unrefined electrodes are immersed in an electrolyte soln. in a vat, (b) a continuous current is passed through the soln. to dissolve impure metal from one electrode and to deposit it as pure metal on another electrode, (c) the electrodes are removed from the vat before the whole of the impure metal has been dissolved, and (d) the pure and impure metals are sepd. from the electrodes. After removing the partially refined inter electrodes from the vat each of them is passed in sequence through appts. which mechanically separates the pure and impure metal from the electrode.