ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERSION OF TRANSITION METAL CATIONS TO ANIONS AT A HIGHER OXIDATION STATE

摘要

A method (useful in toxic metal recovery procedures) of converting a transition metal cation to an anionic form where it is in a higher oxidation state, said method comprising or including: i) providing an electrolytic cell having an acid catholyte separated from an anolyte of the cationic form of transition metal in solution by semi-permeable means that allows little or no passage of an anionic form of the transition metal, the metal being in a higher oxidation state in the anionic form than in the cationic form, and ii) applying a potential to the cell to convert cations of the metal in the anolyte to said anionic form. The electrochemical cell may take the form (A). A similar cell may include a buffer cell with an additional membrane.