Abstract: An electrochemical cell is disclosed which includes a particulate electrode and a current conductor for feeding current to the particles of the particulate electrode, and means for flowing a fluid medium upwardly through the said particulate electrode, wherein a wall which forms part of a compartment defining the area occupied by the particulate electrode is provided with stabilizing means positioned so as to provide generally unidirectional flow channels which, when the electrochemical cell is in use, encourage vertical flow, and discourage bulk lateral movement, of said particles in the region of the said wall.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and process are described for use in a plant for the cathodic recovery of a metal from, for example, an ore. The cell includes one or more intermediate compartments which are bounded by ion-permeable separators and are disposed between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment. In the process, an aqueous solution of a salt of the metal is circulated around a first circuit including the cathode compartment of the cell, and an acid solution is circulated around a second circuit including the anode compartment. The fluid in the intermediate compartment(s) may also be circulated.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of controlling the size distribution of electroconductive particles constituting a particulate electrode in an electrochemical cell. Particles are extracted from the particulate electrode and are subjected to elutriation, the flow of elutriating fluid being such that particles larger than a predetermined size settle against the flow of fluid, while the other particles are carried along by the elutriating fluid and are eventually returned to the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An electrode system is disclosed which comprises a vessel having an ion-permeable wall; a current feeder within said vessel spaced apart from said ion-permeable wall; and a plurality of electrically conductive particles free to move within a region between the current feeder and the ion-permeable wall and constituting, in use, a particulate electrode. The vessel incorporates at the base thereof a flow distributor such that, when the electrode system is in use, a fluid discharged into the vessel through the flow distributor debouches into the vessel in a direction away from the ion-permeable wall towards one or more surfaces in, or forming part of, the vessel and is deflected by said one or more surfaces towards the ion-permeable wall. An electrochemical cell and electrochemical process using such an electrode system are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical apparatus including two or more electrochemical cells arranged in series. Each of the cells has at least one particulate electrode and is separated from its adjacent cells by a bipolar member which constitutes a current feeder for at least one particulate electrode. The apparatus is particularly useful in processes for the electrodeposition of metal onto the particles of a particulate cathode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical process wherein an electrolyte is passed through one electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell, said one electrode compartment comprising a particulate electrode and being separated from a second electrode compartment of said electrochemical cell containing a counter-electrode by a separator having an ion-permeable wall inclined away from the vertical and towards the particulate electrode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical process wherein an electrolyte is passed through one electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell, said one electrode compartment comprising a particulate electrode and being separated from a second electrode compartment of said electrochemical cell containing a counter-electrode by a separator having an ion-permeable wall inclined away from the vertical and towards the particulate electrode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical process and cell, the electrochemical cell comprising an anode compartment through which flows an anolyte and a cathode compartment through which flows a catholyte separated, at least in part, by an ion-permeable wall, wherein the operating pressures within the anode compartment and the cathode compartment are controlled in a manner such that there is not a large difference of pressure across said ion-permeable wall. The operating pressures are advantageously controlled by a flow impeder constituted by a plurality of perforated plates or baffles disposed within an electrode compartment of the cell.