KR102512626B1 - Electrorefining apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrolytic refining device is disclosed. An electrorefining apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electrorefining cell for storing an electrolyte solution; an electrolyte solution settling tank for precipitating and removing impurities having specific gravity greater than or equal to a predetermined specific gravity from the electrolyte solution supplied from the electrolytic refining cell; an electrolyte storage tank for storing primary electrolyte solution overflowed from the electrolyte solution precipitation tank in which impurities are precipitated; A filter for removing fine impurities from the primary electrolyte flowing from the electrolyte storage tank into the electrolytic refining cell and a pump for circulating the electrolyte from the electrolytic refining cell through the electrolyte settling tank and the electrolyte storage tank back to the electrolytic refining cell.

Description

Electrolytic refining device {ELECTROREFINING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to an electrorefining apparatus, and more particularly, to an electrorefining apparatus capable of reducing impurities.

In a general electrolytic refining process, by-products such as slime are generated at the electrolytic anode during the electrolytic refining process, which may be mixed into the electrolytic metal deposited on the electrolytic cathode and act as impurities that lower the purity of the electrolytic metal.

In the case of the prior art, in order to solve the problem related to the impurities, a method of preventing impurities from being mixed into the electrolyte by using an anode cloth for the electrolytic anode is used, or by-products generated from the electrolytic anode are peeled off or separated from the anode during electrorefining. There have been proposed methods of adjusting the alloy components during casting of the anode so as not to

However, even if the above-described method (technology using anode fabric or alloy control) is applied, there is a limit to preventing slime generated from the anode from being mixed with the electrolytic metal during electrolytic refining. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technology capable of further improving the purity of the electrolytic metal during the electrolytic refining process.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1552770

One embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electrolytic refining device capable of obtaining high-purity electrolytic metal by reducing impurities.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an electrolytic refining cell for storing an electrolyte solution; an electrolyte solution settling tank for precipitating and removing impurities having specific gravity greater than or equal to a predetermined specific gravity from the electrolyte solution supplied from the electrolytic refining cell; an electrolyte storage tank for storing a primary electrolyte solution overflowed from the electrolyte solution precipitation tank in which the impurities are precipitated; An electrolysis comprising a filter for removing fine impurities from the primary electrolyte flowing from the electrolyte storage tank into the electrolytic refining cell and a pump for circulating the electrolyte from the electrolytic refining cell through the electrolyte settling tank and the electrolyte storage tank and back to the electrorefining cell. A refining device is provided.

In this case, the filter may be a Teflon filter.

In this case, the electrolyte settling tank and the electrolyte storage tank may be connected to each other so that the electrolyte overflowing from the electrolyte settling tank is directly stored in the electrolyte storage tank.

At this time, the electrolyte settling tank has two or more walls spaced apart by a predetermined interval inside the electrolyte settling tank, and the electrolyte overflows into the two or more walls so that impurities can be sequentially removed.

The electrolytic refining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can effectively remove impurities having a high specific gravity and impurities having a fine size by sequentially introducing and circulating the electrolyte into an electrolyte precipitation tank and a filter.

Through this, the electrolytic refining device according to an embodiment of the present invention can continuously supply the electrolyte from which impurities are removed to the electrolytic refining cell, and as a result, a higher purity electrolytic metal can be obtained.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an electrolytic refining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view illustrating the flow of fluid inside an electrolytic refining cell structure of an electrolytic refining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electrolytic refining cell structure of FIG. 2 viewed from above.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-section of the electrolytic refining cell structure of FIG. 2 cut in a direction parallel to the YZ plane, as viewed in the X-axis direction.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-section of the electrolytic refining cell structure of FIG. 2 cut in a direction parallel to the XZ plane, as viewed in the Y-axis direction.
6 is a block diagram showing an electrolytic refining apparatus in block form according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly describe the present invention in the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

In this specification, terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

In the present specification, in defining the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, the X-axis direction is defined based on the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 3 . Specifically, the X-axis direction is defined as a direction from the first diaphragm to the second diaphragm of the electrolytic refining cell structure, the Z-axis direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the ground, and the Y-axis direction is defined as the X-axis and the Z-axis At the same time, it is defined in the vertical direction.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an electrolytic refining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the flow of fluid inside an electrolytic refining cell structure of an electrolytic refining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electrolytic refining cell structure of FIG. 2 viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-section of the electrolytic refining cell structure of FIG. 2 cut in a direction parallel to the YZ plane, as viewed in the X-axis direction. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-section of the electrolytic refining cell structure of FIG. 2 cut in a direction parallel to the XZ plane, as viewed in the Y-axis direction. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrolytic refining apparatus in block form according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device for obtaining electrolytic metal by using an electrochemical oxidation / reduction reaction, by applying voltage / current to a solution in which a metal salt is dissolved in a high-purity metal ionic liquid. It is an apparatus for reductive electrodeposition of metals.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrolytic refining cell 20, an electrolyte precipitation tank 40, an electrolyte storage tank 50, a filter 60, and a pump 70. include

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrolytic refining cell 20 includes an electrolytic refining cell structure 21 in which an electrolyte solution (F1 + F2) is accommodated, and an electrolytic anode disposed in the inner space of the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 (25) and an electrolytic cathode (26).

First, the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 is a structure having a space S1 for mixing electrolyte solutions F1 + F2 introduced from the outside, and may be formed in a box shape.

In more detail, referring to FIG. 3 when the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 is viewed from above, the electrorefining cell structure 21 may include first side surfaces 21a and second side surfaces 21b that face each other. And, it is disposed between the first side surface 21a and the second side surface 21b, and may include a third side surface 21c and a fourth side surface 21d facing each other.

In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 2 , the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 includes a housing 27 , first partition walls 31 and second partition walls 34 .

In one embodiment of the present invention, a mixing space S1 may be formed inside the enclosure 27 positioned between the first partition wall 31 and the second partition wall 34 . That is, the mixing space S1 may be formed in a form surrounded by the first partition wall 31 and the second partition wall 34 and the third side surface 21c and the fourth side surface 21d.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) including the first electrolyte solution (F1) and the second electrolyte solution (F2) may flow into the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 side. The electrolyte flowing in through the second space S2 of the partition 31 is defined as the first electrolyte F1, and the electrolyte flowing directly into the mixing space S1 is defined as the second electrolyte F2.

In this regard, the inlet 22 may be formed on the third side surface 21c constituting the mixing space S1. Here, the inlet 22 may function as a passage through which the second electrolyte F2 separated from the first electrolyte F1 flows into the mixing space S1 from the outside.

And, the outlet 23 may be formed on the fourth side surface 21d opposite to the third side surface 21c. The outlet 23 may function as a passage through which the first electrolyte solution F1 and the second electrolyte solution F2 introduced into the mixing space S1 are mixed with each other and then discharged to the outside.

As a specific example, the inlet part 22 and the outlet part 23 have third communication holes 22a and 22b and fourth communication holes 23a penetrating the third side surface 21c and the fourth side surface 21d, respectively. 23b).

At this time, referring to FIG. 2 again, the third communication holes 22a and 22b and the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b may be installed at opposite positions in the Z-axis direction. That is, as shown in the drawing, when the third communication holes 22a and 22b are formed on the upper side of the third side surface 21c, the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b are formed on the lower side of the fourth side surface 21d. side can be formed. This is to form a vertical flow in the Z-axis direction in the Y-axis direction flow of the electrolyte solution from the third communication holes 22a and 22b to the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b. This will be described in more detail through a description related to the flow of the electrolyte within the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 .

Meanwhile, a plurality of the third communication holes 22a and 22b and the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b may be formed as shown in the drawing.

In this case, each of the plurality of third communication holes (22a, 22b) may be arranged in a zigzag shape. Here, the meaning that the third communication holes 22a and 22b are arranged in a zigzag pattern means that the plurality of third communication holes 22a and 22b are arranged in a zigzag pattern as shown in FIG. It means that the third communication hole 22b disposed on the lower side is disposed between the third communication holes 22a disposed in a row with a predetermined interval on the upper side of the holes 22a and 22b. That is, it means that the formation position of the third communication holes 22a and 22b repeats vertically as the X-axis direction progresses.

In addition, the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b may also be arranged in a zigzag pattern in the same manner as the third communication holes 22a and 22b. As the third communication holes 22a and 22b and the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b are arranged in a zigzag shape, the inflow and outflow positions of the first electrolyte solution F1 and the second electrolyte solution F2 are more diverse. can get angry

In one embodiment of the present invention, a first barrier rib 31 may be formed on one side of the mixing space S1.

At this time, the first barrier rib 31 is a wall structure installed on the side of the first side surface 21a and may have a predetermined thickness in the X-axis direction. Also, a first space S2 may be formed inside the first barrier rib 31 as a space partitioned from the adjacent mixing space S1.

Referring back to FIG. 2 , the upper surface 32 of the first partition wall 31 may be formed in an open shape, through which the first electrolyte F1 may flow into the first space S2.

At this time, the first electrolyte solution F1 flowing into the first space S2 may move toward the adjacent mixing space S1 through the first communication hole 33 provided on one side of the first partition wall 31 .

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first communication hole 33 may be formed in the lower part of the first partition wall 31 as shown in FIG. 2 . Through this, the first electrolyte F1 introduced into the upper surface 32 of the first partition wall 31 does not flow directly to the mixing space S1, but moves to a predetermined height in the Z-axis direction, and then moves to the first partition wall ( 31) may flow into the mixing space S1 through the first communication hole 33 provided at the bottom.

The first communication hole 33 may be formed at opposite positions in the Z-axis direction compared to the second communication hole 35 provided in the second partition wall 34 formed at the upper portion. This is to further activate the mixing of the electrolytes F1 + F2 inside the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 . This will also be described in detail after the description of the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 is finished.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second partition wall 34 may be formed on the other side of the mixing space S1.

In detail, the second barrier rib 34 may be formed on the opposite side of the first barrier rib 31 based on the mixing space S1. Like the first partition wall 31, the second partition wall 34 has a predetermined thickness in the X-axis direction, and a second space S3 partitioned from the mixing space S1 may be formed therein.

At this time, a second communication hole 35 may be formed on one side of the second partition wall 34 in contact with the mixing space S1. At this time, as described above, the second communication hole 35 may be formed at a position opposite to the first communication hole 33 of the first partition wall 31 in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 , when the first communication hole 33 is formed in the lower part of the first partition wall 31, the second communication hole 35 is formed in the upper part of the second partition wall 34. can

Also, a fifth communication hole 36 through which the electrolyte solution F1+F2 is discharged may be formed on the other side of the second partition wall 34 . The electrolyte solution (F1+F2) flowing into the second space (S3) of the second partition wall (34) through the second communication hole (35) naturally circulates inside the second space (S3), and then passes through the fifth communication hole ( 36) can be discharged to the outside.

2 and 4 show that the fifth communication hole 36 is formed on the upper part of the second partition wall 34 in the same way as the second communication hole 35, but is not limited thereto and according to design conditions 2 It may be formed in various positions on the other side of the partition wall (34).

In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrolytic anode 25 and an electrolytic cathode 26 may be disposed in the mixing space S1 of the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 .

At this time, the electrolytic anode 25 and the electrolytic cathode 26 are used to perform an electrolytic refining process through a redox reaction. At this time, electrorefining is a method of increasing the purity of metal ingot using electrolysis, and the electrolytic anode 25 may be formed of low-purity metal ingot, ) may be formed of a suitable metal sheet.

For example, electrolytic refining of copper can be performed by immersing the two electrodes in an acidic copper sulfate electrolyte solution in which a small amount of copper is dissolved, using blister copper as the anode and the end plate as the cathode.

On the other hand, when voltage/current is applied to the electrolytic anode 25 and the electrolytic cathode 26, high-purity metal is precipitated on the electrolytic cathode 26, and impurities P such as slime are deposited in the electrolytic anode 25. will be created These impurities flow while being included in the electrolyte solution (F1+F2). However, since the chemical reaction generated in the electrolytic anode 25 and the electrolytic cathode 26 through electrolytic refining is a known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

At this time, the electrolytic anode 25 and the electrolytic cathode 26 form a pair, but as shown in the drawing, a plurality of pairs may be alternately disposed. As such, the plurality of electrolytic anodes 25 and the electrolytic cathode 26 are fixed to a structure such as a single support member (not shown) disposed on the upper side of the mixing space S1, for example, a rod-shaped shaft or frame. It may be disposed in a state submerged in the electrolyte solution (F1 + F2) inside the mixing space (S1) in a state.

Hereinafter, the flow inside the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 .

As described above, the first electrolyte solution F1 and the second electrolyte solution F2 may respectively flow into the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 from the outside.

At this time, referring to FIG. 3 , when the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 is viewed from above, the flow direction of the first electrolyte solution F1 and the flow direction of the second electrolyte solution F2 may be perpendicular to each other.

More specifically, the first electrolyte F1 is introduced through the upper surface 32 of the first partition wall 31, flows in the direction of the ground, and flows into the mixing space S1 through the first communication hole 33 It can be. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, a portion of the first electrolyte solution F1 in the mixing space S1 and the second electrolyte introduced through the third communication holes 22a and 22b formed on the third side surface 21c After some of the electrolyte solution F2 is mixed with each other, it may flow out of the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 through the second communication hole 35 of the second partition wall 34 .

Here, as the first communication hole 33 and the second communication hole 35 are arranged up and down with respect to the Z-axis direction, with respect to the flow in the X-axis direction inside the mixing space S1, the flow in the Z-axis direction is more A wide range can be formed.

Similarly, the second electrolyte F2 directly introduced into the mixing space S1 through the third communication holes 22a and 22b of the third side surface 21c is, as shown in FIG. 5, the first electrolyte F1 After being mixed with, it may flow out of the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 through the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b of the fourth side surface 21d.

The third communication holes 22a and 22b and the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b are also arranged above and below each other with respect to the Z-axis direction, so that the flow spectrum inside the mixing space S1 can be obtained with respect to the flow in the Y-axis direction. It can be formed more three-dimensionally in the Z-axis direction.

As such, the electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention separates the electrolyte into the first electrolyte F1 and the second electrolyte F2 and introduces them in a vertical direction to each other, and then in the mixing space S1. By mixing with each other, the components and composition of the electrolyte solution can be maintained more uniformly over the entire area of the XY plane of the electrolytic refining cell structure 21.

In addition, the electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a first communication hole 33, a second communication hole 35, and a third communication hole 22a, 22b based on the Z-axis direction. ) and the fourth through-holes 23a and 23b in opposite directions to induce uniform mixing of the first electrolyte solution F1 and the second electrolyte solution F2 with respect to the upper and lower portions of the mixing space S1. can

In addition, in the electrolytic refining device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the inflow and outflow positions of the electrolyte are more diverse through the third communication holes 22a and 22b and the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b arranged in a zigzag shape. As a result, the passage in the mixing space S1 can be formed more three-dimensionally.

The electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrolyte settling tank 40 in which the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) supplied from the electrolytic refining cell 20 described above is accommodated.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrolyte settling tank 40 is produced during the electrolytic refining process to precipitate impurities contained in the electrolyte (F1 + F2), through which impurities having specific gravity greater than or equal to a predetermined specific gravity are primarily can be removed

Specifically, referring to FIG. 1 , the electrolyte settling tank 40 has a space therein to accommodate the electrolyte, and has an inlet passage 41 into which the electrolyte (F1+F2) can flow into one side. Through this, the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b of the electrolytic refining cell 20 and the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) flowing out from the fifth communication hole 36 are mixed into one, and then the electrolyte solution is passed through the inflow passage 41. It can be moved to the settling tank 40.

On the other hand, although shown as a line in the drawings for simplicity, the electrolytic refining cell 20 and the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 may be connected by at least one pipe. That is, as shown in the drawing, after the pipes extending from the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b and the pipes extending from the fifth communication holes 36 meet each other and are integrated into one pipe, the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 and can be connected

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 may have a plurality of walls 42 inside.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the wall 42 is disposed perpendicular to the ground (in the Z-axis direction) inside the electrolyte sedimentation tank 40, but may be formed in a plate shape lower than the height of the electrolyte sedimentation tank 40 there is.

In this way, since the height of the wall 42 is designed to be lower than the electrolyte settling tank 40, the electrolyte solution (F1 + F2) in the electrolyte settling tank 40 overflows through the upper space of the wall 42. can A portion of the overflowed electrolyte (F1+F2) may flow along the Y-axis direction.

Meanwhile, while the electrolyte solution F1+F2 flows along the Y-axis direction, impurities having specific gravity greater than or equal to a predetermined specific gravity may be precipitated on the bottom surface of the electrolyte settling tank 40 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the movement of the precipitated impurities is restricted by the wall 42 so as to maintain a precipitated state. Through this, impurities included in the electrolyte solution F1+F2 may be primarily removed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of walls 42 may be disposed inside the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 . At this time, the plurality of walls 42 may be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in parallel with each other along the flow direction of the electrolyte (F1+F2). Through this, as the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) overflows the plurality of walls 42, impurities can also be sequentially and repeatedly removed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, one side of the electrolyte settling tank 40 is provided with an outflow passage 43 through which the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) moved along the wall 42 can flow out to the side of the adjacent electrolyte storage tank 50. can

At this time, the outlet passage 43 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other with the wall 42 disposed between the inlet passage 41 . Through this, the primary electrolyte from which impurities are primarily removed during the process of overflowing along the wall 42 may flow out toward the electrolyte storage tank 50.

As a specific example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 and the electrolyte storage tank 50 may be disposed in an interview state with each other. In this case, the outflow passage 43 may be disposed on one side in contact with the electrolyte storage tank 50 .

The electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrolyte storage tank 50 for storing the primary electrolyte transferred from the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 side. At this time, the electrolyte storage tank 50 may be formed in a box shape to have a space capable of accommodating the electrolyte, similarly to the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 .

1 and 6, the electrolyte storage tank 50 is disposed between the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 and the filter 60, through which the electrolyte from which impurities are primarily removed through the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 is immediately It does not flow into the filter 60, but stays in the electrolyte storage tank 50 and can stand by according to the filtration performance of the filter 60.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrolyte storage tank 50 may be disposed connected to the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 so that the electrolyte overflowing from the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 is directly stored in the electrolyte storage tank 50.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in a state where one side of the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 and the electrolyte storage tank 50 are arranged to face each other, the electrolyte storage tank 50 also has an outflow passage of the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 ( By forming a passage corresponding to 43), the electrolyte flowing out through the outflow passage 43 of the electrolyte settling tank 40 can directly flow into the electrolyte storage tank 50. Through this, the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 and the electrolyte storage tank 50 can be space-efficiently arranged, and the circulation of the electrolyte solution can be rapidly progressed with respect to the entire electrolytic refining device 10 by minimizing the flow distance of the electrolyte solution.

The electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a filter 60 for removing fine impurities from the primary electrolyte introduced from the electrolyte storage tank 50 .

In more detail, referring back to FIG. 1 , the filter 60 may be disposed between the electrolyte storage tank 50 and the electrolytic refining cell 20 . Through this, a clean electrolyte solution from which even fine impurities are removed from the primary electrolyte solution introduced from the electrolyte storage tank 50 can be supplied to the electrolytic refining cell 20 side.

On the other hand, although shown as a line in the drawings for simplicity, the electrolytic refining cell 20 and the filter 60 may be connected by at least one pipe. Specifically, as shown in the drawing, after one pipe extends from the filter 60, it branches into a pipe extending from the fourth communication holes 23a and 23b and a pipe connected to the fifth communication hole 36, respectively. It can be connected to the electrolytic refining cell 20.

At this time, the filter 60 may be formed of a Teflon (Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) filter. Through this, corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance of the filter 60, which may be problematic when filtering an electrolyte solution containing metallic impurities, may be secured. In addition, by minimizing the frictional force applied to the electrolyte flowing into the filter 60, circulation of the entire electrolyte (F1+F2) of the electrolytic refining device 10 can be facilitated. However, the filter 60 of the electrolytic refining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the Teflon filter, and various known filters may be employed.

The electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pump 70 for circulating the electrolyte solution (F1+F2).

Referring to FIG. 6, in one embodiment of the present invention, the electrolyte (F1 + F2) is an electrolytic refining cell 20 - an electrolyte precipitation tank 40 - an electrolyte storage tank 50 - a filter 60 - an electrolytic refining cell 20 ), and through this, the electrolytic refining process in the electrolytic refining cell 20 can be continuously performed for a predetermined time. The pump 70 is for providing pressure to the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) in order to maintain the circulation of the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) as described above, and various known pumps 70 may be used.

On the other hand, although the pump 70 is shown in FIG. 6 as being disposed between the electrolyte storage tank 50 and the filter 60, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the pump 70 generates efficient electrolyte circulation. Note that it can be installed in a variety of possible locations.

Hereinafter, a process of removing impurities generated according to an electrolytic refining process in the electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be generally described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 .

First, as voltage/current is applied to the electrolytic anode 25 and the electrolytic cathode 26 inside the electrolytic refining cell 20, the electrolytic metal is electrodeposited on the electrolytic cathode 26, and as the electrodeposition of the electrolytic metal progresses, electrolysis Impurities are separated from the anode 25 and included in the electrolyte solution F1+F2.

Thereafter, the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) containing impurities is moved to the electrolyte solution precipitation tank 40 by the pressure of the pump 70. Here, the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) flows out from the fourth communication hole (23a, 23b) and the fifth communication hole (36) of the electrolytic refining cell (20), respectively, and enters a single flow path before being introduced into the electrolyte precipitation tank (40). After being integrated into the electrolyte solution is introduced through the inlet passage 41 of the precipitation tank 40.

Meanwhile, as the electrolyte solution (F1+F2) introduced into the electrolyte settling tank 40 overflows along the wall 42, impurities having a predetermined specific gravity or more are precipitated on the bottom of the electrolyte settling tank 40. As described above, the movement of these impurities is limited by the wall 42, so that they stay inside the electrolyte precipitation tank 40.

The primary electrolyte from which impurities are primarily removed moves to the electrolyte storage tank 50, waits temporarily before flowing into the filter 60, and then moves to the filter 60 side.

Next, while the primary electrolyte introduced into the filter 60 passes through the filter 60, fine impurities not removed from the electrolyte precipitation bath 40 may be filtered out secondarily. Through this, the electrolyte solution in a clean state by lowering the content of impurities (P) can be supplied to the electrolytic refining cell 20 side.

At this time, the electrolyte solution flowing out from the filter 60 is branched again into the first electrolyte solution F1 and the second electrolyte solution F2, and flows to the mixing space S1 and the first partition wall 31 of the electrolytic refining cell 20, respectively. can be infiltrated.

This flow is continuously circulated by the pump 70, so that the electrolytic refining process and the impurity removal process are repeatedly performed.

As described above, the electrolytic refining apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention sequentially introduces and circulates the electrolyte (F1 + F2) into the electrolyte precipitation tank 40 and the filter 60, thereby removing impurities with high specific gravity and fine particles. Large-sized impurities can be effectively removed. Through this, the electrolytic refining device 10 can continuously supply the electrolyte solution from which impurities are removed to the electrolytic refining cell 20, and thus, the inflow of impurities into the electrolytic metal can be effectively prevented. As a result, a higher purity electrolytic metal can be obtained.

In addition, in the electrolytic refining device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the electrolytic refining cell structure 21 is partitioned into a mixing space S1 and a wall 42, and at the same time, toward the electrolytic refining cell structure 21. The composition of the electrolyte solution inside the mixing space S1 can be maintained more uniformly by introducing the introduced electrolyte solution F1+F2 into the first electrolyte solution F1 and the second electrolyte solution F2, respectively. Through this, the purity and surface of the electrolytic metal electrodeposited on the electrolytic cathode 26 can be uniformly formed.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented herein, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention may add elements within the scope of the same spirit. However, other embodiments can be easily proposed by means of changes, deletions, additions, etc., but these will also fall within the scope of the present invention.

10 electrorefining unit 20 electrorefining cell
21 enclosure 22 third communication hole
23 4th communication hole 25 Electrolytic anode
26 Electrolytic cathode 27 Housing
30 bulkhead 31 first bulkhead
32 Upper surface of the first bulkhead 33 First communication hole
34 2nd bulkhead 35 2nd communication hole
36 Fifth communication hole 40 Electrolyte precipitation tank
41 inlet passage 42 wall
43 outflow passage 50 electrolyte reservoir
60 filter 70 pump
F1 1st electrolyte solution F2 2nd electrolyte solution
P impurity

Claims (4)

an electrolytic refining cell that stores an electrolyte solution;
an electrolyte solution settling tank for precipitating and removing impurities having specific gravity greater than or equal to a predetermined specific gravity from the electrolyte solution supplied from the electrolytic refining cell;
an electrolyte storage tank for storing a primary electrolyte solution overflowed from the electrolyte solution precipitation tank in which the impurities are precipitated;
A filter for removing impurities from the primary electrolyte flowing into the electrolytic refining cell from the electrolyte storage tank; and
A pump for circulating the electrolyte from the electrolytic refining cell through the electrolyte precipitation tank and the electrolyte storage tank and back to the electrolytic refining cell,
The electrolytic refining cell,
An enclosure having a mixing space in which the first electrolyte and the second electrolyte are introduced and mixed;
A first communication hole installed on a first side surface of the enclosure, partitioning a first space supplied with the first electrolyte solution from the mixing space, and allowing the first electrolyte to flow from the first space to the mixing space. a first barrier rib provided;
It is installed on a second side surface opposite to the first side surface inside the enclosure to form a first discharge space partitioned from the mixing space, and in a third electrolyte solution in which the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution are mixed from the mixing space. a second barrier rib having a second communication hole through which a part of the wall is introduced;
An inlet portion installed on a third side surface perpendicular to the first side surface or the second side surface of the enclosure and having a third communication hole through which the second electrolyte is introduced into the mixing space; and
An outlet portion installed on a side of a fourth side surface opposite to the third side surface of the enclosure and having a fourth communication hole through which the remaining part of the third electrolyte solution in which the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution are mixed flows out from the mixing space. include,
The first electrolyte solution is supplied from the first partition wall to the mixing space, mixed with the second electrolyte solution, and then discharged through the second partition wall. The second electrolyte solution is supplied to the mixing space through the inlet and mixed with the first electrolyte solution. Discharged through the outlet, the electrolytic refining device. According to claim 1,
The electrolytic refining apparatus, wherein the filter is a Teflon filter. According to claim 1,
The electrolytic refining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte settling tank and the electrolyte storage tank are connected to each other so that the electrolyte overflowed from the electrolyte settling tank is directly stored in the electrolyte storage tank. According to claim 1,
The electrolytic refining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte precipitation tank has two or more walls spaced apart by a predetermined distance inside the electrolyte precipitation tank, and the electrolyte overflows into the two or more walls to sequentially remove impurities.

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