Am. Alfantazi et Db. Dreisinger, The role of zinc and sulfuric acid concentrations on zinc electrowinning from industrial sulfate based electrolyte, J APPL ELEC, 31(6), 2001, pp. 641-646
The effects of varying simultaneously the zinc/acid concentrations at a fix
ed total sulfate, on the current efficiency, energy requirements, and depos
it physical characteristics for the zinc electrowinning, using Kidd Creek z
inc electrolyte, were investigated. The electrowinning experiments were con
ducted using a laboratory scale apparatus, at plating cycles of 24 and 30 h
, a current density of 500 A m(-2) and a temperature of 38 degreesC. These
conditions are typical of those applied at the Kidd Creek zinc tankhouse. T
he reagents presently used at Kidd Creek, namely strontium carbonate, Sapon
in, Dowfroth 250, antimony and sodium silicate, were also continuously adde
d to the cell electrolyte at levels similar to Kidd Creek practice. Scannin
g electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to charact
erize the deposits with respect to morphology and preferred orientation, re
spectively. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the effect of the zinc/aci
d concentrations on the polarization behaviour of the electrolyte. In addit
ion, the electrical conductivity of the Kidd Creek zinc electrolyte was mea
sured and compared with other industrial sulfate-based zinc electrolytes.