Basic cobaltous carbonates, process for preparing the same and their use

A process for the production of basic cobalt (II) carbonate of the general formula Co[(OH)2]a[CO3]1−a wherein 0.2≦a≦1 by anodic oxidation of metallic cobalt in an aqueous CO2 saturated electrolyte solution, and separating and washing the basic cobalt (II) carbonate product thus obtained, wherein the aqueous electrolyte solution further contains alkali carbonate and/or alkali hydrogen carbonate in a concentration range of 0.01 to 2 mol/l, and wherein the produced basic cobalt (II) carbonate has under 200 ppm electrolyte residue.