GB1389243A - Electrolytic refining of metal - Google Patents

Abstract

1389243 Electro-refining metals BRITISH COPPER REFINERS Ltd 6 April 1973 [6 Jan 1972 16 Feb 1972] 647/72 and 7223/72 Heading C7B Metal e.g. Cu is electrolytically refined by immersing unrefined electrodes 2 e.g. in series in electrolyte solution 3 contained in a tank 1 and passing D.C. to cause impure metal from the unrefined electrodes to be dissolved in the solution and deposited as pure metal e.g. on adjacent electrodes, insulating inert baffles being so positioned in the tank to reduce current flow around the immersed electrode edges. The baffles may comprise rigid or resilient sheets e.g. of PVC: vertical side and bottom baffles 4, 6 being positioned in the gaps between the electrode side and bottom edges and the tank side walls and base respectively throughout the whole length and width of the electrode group. The bottom baffles may extend transversely parallel to the electrodes, at least one below and between each pair of electrodes, and may be integral with or connected to each other to form a lattice-work structure 5 supported by integral strips 7. Fins 9 may project from the surface of each bottom baffle 6 to support an electrode should it inadvertently drop between two adjacent bottom baffles. The lattice-work structure 5 may comprise two sets of transversely extending bottom baffles each inclined to one another and to the electrodes Fig. 4 (not shown). The tank may have an inner surface of polymeric material as described in Specification 1342339. For refining Cu, the unrefined electrodes are formed by cutting continuously cast Cu strip into lengths as described in Specification 1067297. Specification 1342339 is referred to.