Lead-cobalt anodes for electrowinning of zinc from sulphate electrolytes

A new anodic lead-cobalt (Pb-Co) 0.5-6% (by weight) material for electrowin ning of zinc from sulphuric acid electrolytes has been obtained. The proper ties of Pb-Co alloys anodes, based on an entirely different principal were studied by means of electrochemical methods. The results obtained were comp ared with those from lead-silver (Pb-Ag) anodes with a 1% Ag content as use d in industry. It is established that above 0.5% Co, the corrosion resistan ce of the new anodes is better and at Co content of 3% the anodic overpoten tial is about 0.08-0.1 V lower than that of Pb-Ag (1%) alloy. The anodic la yer of the Pb-Co anodes-dense and tightly attached to the surface-consisted of beta-PbO2, MnO2 and PbSO4. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.