Electrowinning of Copper Using Rotating Cylinder Electrode Utilizing Lead Anode

Abstract

The effect of lead anode, rotating cylinder electrode (RCE), amount of 1, 2-dihydroxypropane (12-DHP), temperature and rotation on the electrowinning of copper from low concentration acidified copper sulphate solution has been investigated. Copper powder was electrodeposited onto RCE that made of pure copper. From cyclic voltammetry experiments, an empirical parameter called the departure percent, S, was obtained which may represent the stability of the organic additive in the given medium and under the experimental conditions. The inhibition percentage, P, was 0.00 -89.91% depending on the experimental variables. P was affected by temperature and mole fraction of 12-DHP, while rotation did not show any influence on it. Values of activation energy of electrodeposition process, E a , were found to be less than 28 kJ mol -1 indicating diffusion controlled process. The overall mass transfer correlations under the present conditions have been computed using the dimensional analysis method. The data were valid for 90 < Sh < 1098, 737 < Sc < 59284 and 271 < Re < 7046 and the results agreed with the previous studies of mass transfer to rotating cylinders in turbulent flow regimes. The effect of time, content of 12-DHP, temperature and the speed of rotation on the morphological changes of the electrodeposited copper powder as well as deposits composition and crystallite size have been studied. Various crystallite sizes ranged 7.1 nm -250.6 nm were obtained and characterized by EDS and XRD. Different topographs proved that the rate of copper electrodeposition increased by increasing deposition time, temperature and the speed of rotation. Also, they proved that the deposition rate decreased by adding 12-DHP to the solution. Therefore, the results obtained by SEM supported those achieved by measuring the limiting current density and follow the normal manner when organic solvents were added to the electrodeposition bath.

Archives of Metallurgy and Materials

“…in the literature, mechanical improvements to the electrolytic synthesis of copper powders, such as an electrode from a rotating disk or cylinder, have also been proposed [23][24][25][26]. in this version of the process, the cathode in cylindrical shape rotates, partially immersed in the electrolyte.…”

Hydrodynamic Simulation of Two-Phase Flow in an Industrial Electrowinning Cell with New Scheme

“…Using an experimental procedure, Soliman et al (2011) obtained Sherwood number to calculate mass transfer in an electrowinning cell with rotating cylinder electrodes. Using analytical and experimental studies, Coleman (Coleman and Roy 2014) exposed a specific test cell with a small electrode interval to ultrasonic waves, obtained its mass transfer relationships, and showed that the use of ultrasonic waves would increase the mass transfer in the cell.…”

Effect of Flow Pattern on Energy Consumption and Properties of Copper Powder in the Electrolytic Process

“…According to physical and chemical laws (Equation 1), the limiting current density is bound up with mass transport of Cu 2+ [9] and the limiting current density is inversely related to the diffusion boundary layer. Therefore, the limiting current density may be raised obviously by decreasing diffusion boundary layer thickness, which could be achieved by electrolyte agitation [10] , rotation of cathode [11] and enhanced flow at cathode [7,12] .…”