摘要 |
A method of regenerating a spent metal etchant solution and the metal which has been etched therewith, comprising circulating the spent etchant solution between an etching vessel and the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell provided with a cell divider, for example an anion or cation exchange membrane defining the said anode compartment and a cathode compartment, and electrolytically re-oxidizing the reduced etchant in the cell to regenerate the etchant in the anode compartment and the etched metal in the cathode compartment while introducing a portion of the circulating etchant solution into the cathode compartment, for example by pumping solution from the etching vessel, or by gravity, the said portion being sufficiently small as not to raise the level of etchant in the cathode compartment to a level which will prevent the said electrolytic reduction of ions of the etched metal. |