Electrolytic cell and methods combining electrowinning and electrochemical reactions employing a membrane or diaphragm

US4627899A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of The Interior · US

Inventors

• Gerald R. Smith · Farmington, US
• William Thompson · Woodburn, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 15, 1985
• Grant date: Dec 9, 1986
• Expiry date: Feb 15, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C25C1/12
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An electrolytic cell is provided for a process which combines at compatible cell geometries and current densities, the electrowinning of a metallic element from an electrolyte with an anodic, electrochemical reaction using a cationic permselective membrane between half-cells to keep the reactions separate. The cell is operated by introducing a metal salt into a catholytic compartment, introducing a compatible electrochemical solution into an anolytic compartment, wherein both of said salt and said electrochemical solution are in an electrolysis cell having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode, and applying an electromotive force across said electrodes whereby an oxidation electrochemical reaction occurs at the anode while the metal of said metal salt is deposited at said cathode.