Electrolytic processes with reduced cell voltage and gas formation
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMichael J. Sierakowski, L. Charles Hardy, Michael S. Terrazas, Jennifer E. Waddell, Bryan J. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrolytic solutions containing organic additive(s) selected from a described class of additives (e.g., 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine) reduce overall applied electrical potential of electrolytic cells and/or reduce gas formation at the anode(s) or increase copper production rate. Benefits include reducing overall power consumption and reducing acid mist during electrolytic processes.
Claims18
An electrolytic process utilizing an electrolytic cell having at least one gas-evolving anode, at least one cathode, and an electrolyte solution in contact with said anode and cathode and comprising an acid, a metal ion source and a solvent, said process comprising applying an electrical potential between said anode and said cathode to induce current flow wherein said electrolyte solution contains at least one organic additive in an amount sufficient to reduce cell operating potential at constant current, compared to the same process without such organic additive, said organic additive being selected from the group consisting of:
- 4
The process of claim 2 wherein the organic additive is 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine
- 5
An electrolytic process utilizing an electrolytic cell having at least one gas-evolving anode, at least one cathode, and an electrolyte solution in contact with said anode and cathode and comprising an acid, a metal ion source and a solvent said process comprising applying an electrical potential between said anode and said cathode to induce current flow wherein said electrolyte solution contains at least one organic additive in an amount sufficient to reduce gas evolution at the anode, compared to the same process without such organic additive, said organic additive being selected from the group consisting of:
- organic compounds soluble in the electrolyte solution which have at least one hydroxy group, excluding ethylene glycol, ethanol, and dextrin;
- 6
A solid composition comprising copper and at least one organic additive selected from the group consisting of organic compounds soluble in the electrolyte solution which have at least one hydroxy group, excluding ethylene glycol, ethanol, and dextrin;
- 7
An electrolytic process utilizing an electrolytic cell having at least one anode, at least one cathode, and an electrolyte solution in contact with said anode and cathode and comprising an acid, a metal ion source and a solvent, and having a substantial absence of cobalt in the electrolyte solution, said process comprising applying an electrical potential between said anode and said cathode to induce current flow wherein said electrolyte solution contains at least one organic additive in an amount sufficient to reduce gas evolution at the anode, compared to the same process without such organic additive, said organic additive being selected from the group consisting of:
- organic compounds soluble in the electrolyte solution which have at least one hydroxy group;
- 9
A copper electrowinning process utilizing an electrolytic cell having at least one gas-evolving anode, at least one cathode, and an electrolyte solution in contact with said anode and cathode and comprising an acid, a copper ion source and a solvent said process comprising applying an electrical potential between said anode and said cathode to induce current flow wherein said electrolyte solution contains at least one organic additive in an amount sufficient to increase the rate of copper deposition on the cathode at constant voltage, compared to the same process without such organic additive, said organic additive being selected from the group consisting of:
- 10
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.