ELECTROCHEMICAL RECOVERY OF BISMUTH IN ACIDIC MEDIA USING A NIOBIUM ELECTRODE

The electrodeposition and electrodissolution of bismuth in acidic medi a was studied on a niobium electrode. The influence of the oxide layer on the above two processes was evaluated. It has been shown that, dur ing the electrodissolution scan, bismuth crystallites remain at the el ectrode surface, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Deposit s are usually powdered and non-adherent but electrowinning is possible since electrodeposition is only weakly influenced by the oxide layer.