Continuous electrochemical process for preparation of zinc powder
US6569311B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC25C5/02
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a continuous electrochemical process for preparing zinc powder. The process involves providing to an electrochemical cell a suspension in a 1.25 Molar to 10.0 Molar aqueous alkaline solution of zinc oxide or any other zinc compound that reacts with an aqueous alkaline solution to produce zinc oxide, such that the solution or suspension comprises at least 2 millimoles of solubilized zinc based species per 100 grams of electrolyte. Current is passed to the cell at a current density of about 500 to 40,000 A/m2, for a time period sufficient to electrochemically reduce the solubilized zinc based species to zinc powder, while continuously or intermittently adding a sufficient amount of the zinc oxide or the other zinc compound to the cell to maintain the concentration of the solubilized zinc based species at a level of at least 2 millimoles per 100 grams of electrolyte.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.