METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROWINNING POWDER METAL FROM SOLUTION

摘要

A cell (1) for electrowinning a metal in powder form from solution is disclosed. The cell (1) includes a housing (2) having an inlet (3) towards one end thereof and an outlet (4) towards an opposed end. The cell has a cylindrical anode (6) extending substantially axially through the housing (2) and a cathode (7) surrounding the anode (6) spaced outwardly away therefrom. The anode (6) and cathode (7) define a flow passage (8) therebetween having a gap of 5 to 25 millimetres. In use the cell has a substantially vertical orientation with the inlet (3) at the bottom and the outlet (4) at the top. During the flow of process solution through the cell (1) metal powder is deposited on the cathode (7). Periodically the flow process solution is interrupted and flush solution is passed in a reverse direction through the cell to remove powder metal from the cathode (7). A bank of cells in which the individual cells are connected in parallel to respectively an inlet main and an outlet main is also disclosed.