WO2013132157A1 - Anode and method of operating an electrolysis cell - Google Patents

Anode and method of operating an electrolysis cell Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013132157A1
WO2013132157A1 PCT/FI2013/050242 FI2013050242W WO2013132157A1 WO 2013132157 A1 WO2013132157 A1 WO 2013132157A1 FI 2013050242 W FI2013050242 W FI 2013050242W WO 2013132157 A1 WO2013132157 A1 WO 2013132157A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
anode
cell
electrolyte
attached
conductive element
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2013/050242
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Ville Nieminen
Michael H. Barker
Henri Virtanen
Original Assignee
Outotec Oyj
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=49115992&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=WO2013132157(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Outotec Oyj filed Critical Outotec Oyj
Priority to US14/382,709 priority Critical patent/US20150034491A1/en
Priority to JP2014560418A priority patent/JP5898346B2/ja
Priority to MX2014010731A priority patent/MX355084B/es
Priority to CN201380013068.7A priority patent/CN104204307B/zh
Priority to ES201450004A priority patent/ES2524193B1/es
Priority to CA2865989A priority patent/CA2865989C/en
Publication of WO2013132157A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013132157A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C7/00Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
    • C25C7/04Diaphragms; Spacing elements
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25CPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25C7/00Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
    • C25C7/02Electrodes; Connections thereof
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25DPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D17/10Electrodes, e.g. composition, counter electrode
    • C25D17/12Shape or form
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25DPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D3/00Electroplating: Baths therefor
    • C25D3/02Electroplating: Baths therefor from solutions
    • C25D3/38Electroplating: Baths therefor from solutions of copper

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a new kind of anode to be used in electrowinning.
  • the invention also relates to a method of operating an electrolysis cell to be used in the electrowinning of metals.
  • Electrowinning is a process where a metal dissolved in an electrolyte is reduced on a cathode by means of an electrical current.
  • a current is passed through the anode through the electrolyte solution containing the metal value so that the metal value is extracted as it is deposited in an electroplating process onto the cathode.
  • an electrical current is applied to the sulfate based electrolysis system, metal is precipitated on the surface of the cathode and water decomposes on the anode where acid and oxygen are formed.
  • Electrowinning takes place in an electrolytic cell that contains a number of anodes and a number of cathodes arranged in an alternating manner.
  • electrowinning requires a large number of cathodes and anodes in a single electrolytic cell.
  • Anode used in electrowinning has been lead based anode, which could have a negative effect on the quality of copper deposited.
  • lead based anodes One significant disadvantage of using such lead based anodes is that during electrowinning operations small amounts of lead are released from the surface of the anode, which causes the undesirable particulates to be suspended in the electrolyte.
  • the lead sludge must be cleaned periodically from the cell bottom e.g. every 45 to 90 days, and during this time the electrowinning cell is not producing metal.
  • MMO coated anodes consist of conductive mixed metal oxide coatings on valve metal substrates, usually titanium or nickel.
  • Dimensionally Stable Anode or DSA® is a well-known type of MMO-coated anode.
  • the electrode includes a hanger bar and an electrode body including at least one conductor rod and a substrate, a connection coupling the hanger bar and the at least one conductor rod, and a seal isolating the connection.
  • An electrode comprises a hanger bar including at least one recessed hole, and an electrode body comprising at least one conductor rod press fit into said at least one recessed hole and a substrate coupled to said conductor rod.
  • Past research and development efforts have focused on ways to increase production capacity per plant area for copper electrowinning, which directly impacts on the cost- effectiveness of the electrowinning process.
  • To increase the production of the electrolysis plant and cell it is desirable to increase the current density during electrolysis, and achieve a higher deposition rate of copper on the cathodes.
  • the current density on the cathode side is limited by the quality of the copper deposited, as due to the increased overvoltage on the cathodes more impurities are deposited with increasing current density.
  • Publication WO 2005/080640 presents a process for electrochemically winning or refining copper, where the idea of the invention is to increase the copper loading per cathode.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an anode for electrowinning process, especially when the anode is to be used with "jumbo" cathodes having a great length (of 1 .2 m or longer) and for avoiding problems stabilizing the position of the anode inside the electrolytic cell.
  • the anode and the method of the invention are characterized by the definitions of independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
  • the invention presents an anode for an electrowinning process in an electrolytic cell having cell walls and a bottom cell for holding an electrolyte and electrolyte feeding means.
  • the anode comprises of a hanger bar for supporting the anode, a conducting rod for distributing the current to the anode, an anode body having at least partly conductive structure, which anode body allows the penetration of the electrolyte and is at least partly covered by electrocatalytic coating, when in connection with the anode there is arranged a non-conductive element, which is restricted to the conductive structure of the anode body at least from its one side and which non-conductive element is arranged at a distance A from the electrolyte surface level, when the non-conductive element provides a means for attaching the anode to the cell.
  • the length A is arranged to be between 0,3-2 meters, which depends on the size of the electrodes and process parameters.
  • the non-conductive element of the anode is formed by excluding part of the anode body from electrocatalytic coating, for example at least 2 percent of the anode surface is excluded from electrocatalytic coating.
  • the non-conductive element is made of at least one non-conductive object attached to the anode body.
  • the anode is being attached into the electrolytic cell by anchoring elements located in the cell bottom, in the cell wall, in the electrolyte feeding means or attached to the cathode next to the anode.
  • the conductive structure of the anode body consists of a mesh structure, including preferably at least one of the following; Ti, Ni, Pb, Ta, Zr or Nb and the electrocatalytic coating consists of a Pt-group metal oxide or a mixture of metal oxides.
  • the height B between the upper part of the non-conductive element and anode bottom surface is arranged to be between 0.05-0.3 m.
  • the invention also describes a method of operating an electrolysis cell to be used in the electrowinning of metal, when metal is electrodeposited on the cathode surface from an electrolyte solution in an electrolytic cell having cell walls and a cell bottom, which cell contains electrolyte where anodes and cathodes are immersed in alternating fashion , in which the anode is supported by a hanger bar on the conducting rod, which distributes the current to the anode, when the anode body has at least a partly conductive structure allowing the penetration of the electrolyte and an electrocatalytic coating, when the anode is attached inside the electrolytic cell by a non-conductive element arranged in connection with the anode, which non-conductive element is restricted to the conductive structure of the anode body at least from its one side and which non-conductive element is arranged at a distance A from the electrolyt
  • the anode is attached into the electrolytic cell wall, into the electrolyte feeding means or the cathode next to the anode by anchoring elements.
  • the electrolyte is fed at least from two manifolds in the cell, when the other one is at the bottom of the cell.
  • the anode could be used in the electrowinning of the metal copper, Cu.
  • the anode can easily be attached in the cell, anode warping is avoided, good mixing effect of electrolyte inside the cell is reached by using the anode according to the invention. Also copper growth on the cathode surface will be more even.
  • good electrolyte mixing is obtained and metal ion concentration gradients can be avoided.
  • Better anode attaching and anchoring in the cell can be achieved by coating only part of the surface of the anode with the electrocatalytic coating.
  • Fig. 1 schematically shows an anode according to the invention, where the non- conductive part of the anode is part of the anode body.
  • Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the anode, where the non-conductive element is attached to the anode.
  • Fig. 3a schematically shows an anode according to the invention, where the anchoring elements are located on the electrolytic cell bottom.
  • Fig. 3b schematically shows an anode according to the invention, where the anchoring elements are located on the electrolytic cell walls.
  • Fig. 3c schematically shows an anode according to the invention, where the anchoring elements are located on the electrolyte feeding means.
  • Fig. 3d schematically shows an anode according to the invention, where the non- conductive element is attached to the anode and attached to the anchoring elements.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 shows an anode 1 for electrowinning of metals, such as copper in an electrolytic cell 2 having cell walls 3 and cell bottom 4 for holding an electrolyte 5.
  • the anode comprises of a hanger bar 7 for supporting the anode on the conducting rod 8, which distributes the current to the anode, an anode body 9 having at least partly conductive structure allowing the penetration of the electrolyte and an electrocatalytic coating.
  • a non-conductive element 10, 12, 14 in connection with the anode 1 at a distance A from the electrolyte surface level 1 1 , when the distance A is arranged to be at an interval 0,3-2 meter. This depends on the size of the anode used.
  • the non-conductive element 10, 12, 14 provides means for attaching the anode 1 inside the electrolytic cell 4, which is important when using long anodes with long cathodes. When using long cathodes, it is important that the anode is fixed and rigid in its place and possible warping of the anode is prevented.
  • the non- conductive element consists of any suitable material that is not electrically conductive and could be selected based on the process needs. It is possible that the non- conductive element could consist of several pieces or is made from one piece.
  • Figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d describe different ways for attaching the anode inside the electrolytic cell 4.
  • the non-conductive element 10, 12, 14 of the anode provides means for attaching the anode 1 for example in the cell bottom 3, to the walls 2 or to the electrolyte feeding means 6 by anchoring elements 13, which are attached to the non- conductive elements. It is also possible to attach the anode next to the cathode inside the electrolytic cell (not shown in figures).
  • the anode is attached to the cathode by using non-conductive element, it means that it acts as a spacer, which is known to be used to align the electrodes and separate them at a fixed distance from each other in order the electrolytic process to function.
  • the anode When using a long anode, it is important that the anode is rigid and straight and positioned from even distance from the adjacent cathodes.
  • the anode can be anchored inside electrolytic cell 4 by supportive anchoring elements 13, which could be of any shape (e.g. V-neck) and suitable for attaching them to the non-conductive elements 10, 12, 14.
  • the electrolytic cell may be used for electrowinning of several metal values.
  • An electrowinning cell as described herein may be configured for the extraction of a variety of metal values.
  • Fig. 3d schematically shows an anode, where the non-conductive element 12 is attached to the anode and attached to the anchoring elements 13.
  • the non-conductive element is attached to the cathode next to the anode, when the non-conductive element functions as a cathode guide, i.e. during cathode harvests it guides the cathode into the correct position and prevents any contact between the cathode and the anode body.
  • the distance between electrolyte surface level 1 1 and the non-conductive element meaning length A is arranged to be in interval 0,3-2 meter when the height B between the upper part 16 of the non-conductive element 10,12,14 and anode bottom surface 15 is arranged to be between 0.05-0.3 m. Then the immersion of the anode is enough to be used with long cathodes.
  • One way is to form the non-conductive element 10, 12, 14 of the anode 1 is by excluding the anode body 9 from electrocatalytic coating when at least 2 percent of the anode 1 surface is excluded from electrocatalytic coating.
  • the conductive structure of the anode body consists for example of a mesh structure allowing the penetration of the electrolyte, when the anode mesh consists of preferably one of the following metals; Ti, Ni, Pb, Ta, Zr or Nb.
  • Catalytic coating preferably consists of Pt-group metal oxide.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
PCT/FI2013/050242 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 Anode and method of operating an electrolysis cell WO2013132157A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/382,709 US20150034491A1 (en) 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 Anode and method of operating an electrolysis cell
JP2014560418A JP5898346B2 (ja) 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 陽極および電解槽の運転方法
MX2014010731A MX355084B (es) 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 Anodo y método para operar una celda de electrólisis.
CN201380013068.7A CN104204307B (zh) 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 操作电解单元的阳极和方法
ES201450004A ES2524193B1 (es) 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 Ánodo y método para operar una celda de electrólisis.
CA2865989A CA2865989C (en) 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 Anode and method of operating an electrolysis cell

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20120075A FI125808B (en) 2012-03-09 2012-03-09 Anode and method for operating an electrolytic cell
FI20120075 2012-03-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013132157A1 true WO2013132157A1 (en) 2013-09-12

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ID=49115992

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2013/050242 WO2013132157A1 (en) 2012-03-09 2013-03-06 Anode and method of operating an electrolysis cell

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US20150034491A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP5898346B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN104204307B (ja)
CA (1) CA2865989C (ja)
CL (1) CL2014002375A1 (ja)
ES (1) ES2524193B1 (ja)
FI (1) FI125808B (ja)
MX (1) MX355084B (ja)
PE (1) PE20142392A1 (ja)
WO (1) WO2013132157A1 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017144912A1 (en) 2016-02-24 2017-08-31 Michael Harold Barker Equipment for a metal electrowinning or liberator process and way of operating the process

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FI125515B (en) * 2013-03-01 2015-11-13 Outotec Oyj A method of measuring and arranging an electric current flowing at a single electrode of an electrolysis system
CN105063728A (zh) * 2015-08-18 2015-11-18 江苏金曼科技有限责任公司 一种防腐蚀铂钛网

Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3821097A (en) * 1970-09-04 1974-06-28 Int Nickel Co Current density redistributing anode
US20100065433A1 (en) * 2008-09-12 2010-03-18 Victor Vidaurre Heiremans System and apparatus for enhancing convection in electrolytes to achieve improved electrodeposition of copper and other non ferrous metals in industrial electrolytic cells

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US4207153A (en) * 1979-02-16 1980-06-10 Kennecott Copper Corporation Electrorefining cell with bipolar electrode and electrorefining method
DE2912524C2 (de) * 1979-03-29 1985-08-29 Hüttenwerke Kayser AG, 4670 Lünen Arbeitsverfahren und Vorrichtung zum elektrolytischen Abscheiden von Metallen, insbesondere Kupfer
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US20060021880A1 (en) * 2004-06-22 2006-02-02 Sandoval Scot P Method and apparatus for electrowinning copper using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction and a flow-through anode
JP4389846B2 (ja) * 2005-06-22 2009-12-24 三菱マテリアル株式会社 縁部絶縁部材
JP5168907B2 (ja) * 2007-01-15 2013-03-27 東京エレクトロン株式会社 プラズマ処理装置、プラズマ処理方法及び記憶媒体
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3821097A (en) * 1970-09-04 1974-06-28 Int Nickel Co Current density redistributing anode
US20100065433A1 (en) * 2008-09-12 2010-03-18 Victor Vidaurre Heiremans System and apparatus for enhancing convection in electrolytes to achieve improved electrodeposition of copper and other non ferrous metals in industrial electrolytic cells

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017144912A1 (en) 2016-02-24 2017-08-31 Michael Harold Barker Equipment for a metal electrowinning or liberator process and way of operating the process

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2015509558A (ja) 2015-03-30
CL2014002375A1 (es) 2015-01-16
MX2014010731A (es) 2015-04-10
FI20120075A (fi) 2013-09-10
MX355084B (es) 2018-04-04
FI125808B (en) 2016-02-29
JP5898346B2 (ja) 2016-04-06
PE20142392A1 (es) 2015-02-02
CA2865989A1 (en) 2013-09-12
CA2865989C (en) 2016-12-13
ES2524193A2 (es) 2014-12-04
ES2524193R1 (es) 2014-12-29
CN104204307A (zh) 2014-12-10
CN104204307B (zh) 2017-06-09
ES2524193B1 (es) 2015-09-02
US20150034491A1 (en) 2015-02-05

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