ELECTROLYZER AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

摘要

The present invention relates to a device and method for electrolytic deposition of metals on conducting particles. The conducting particles are completely immersed in a liquid and allowed to flow across a particle contacting surface of a cathode support (102). The particles flow across the surface and into a reservoir (108). Fresh particles can be introduced onto a first portion (124) of the particle contacting surface, or the particles can be recirculated from the reservoir. The pellet flow field is of uniform or near uniform thickness. Electrical contact is made between the negative pole of a DC power supply and the conducting particles via the support surface (102), via conducting inserts passing through the support surface, or via other means. An anode mesh (104) is placed above and parallel to the top face of the particle bed such that the mesh does not touch the particle bed but remains a controlled distance from it. The anode mesh is connected to the positive terminal of the dc power supply. A significant aspect of the present invention is that device does not require a separator between the particle bed and the anode.