PROCESS FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL RECOVERY OF BISMUTH FROM AN ION EXCHANGE ELUENT

摘要

A process is provided for the recovery of bismuth from an ion exchange eluent solution consisting of at least 50% sulfuric acid maintained at a temperature of 95-100~C. The process comprises the step of electrowinning bismuth from the sulfuric acid solution in an electrochemical cell at a current density up to 30 A/m2 using an insoluble anode and a cathode that is impervious to the highly corrosive environment of hot sulfuric acid, for a time interval such as to reduce the bismuth content of the solution down to about 3-5g/L.