METAL RECOVERY REACTOR AND METAL RECOVERY SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a metal recovery reactor and a metal recovery system. The metal recovery device according to the present invention comprises an electrolytic cell which receives a solution containing metal ions from the outside, and which reduces and precipitates the metal ions of the solution on the surface of a cathode when the solution is supplied to a reaction space formed between an anode and the cathode surrounding the anode. The cathode comprises a main cathode and an auxiliary cathode positioned inside the main cathode and capable of being detached and attached from the main cathode.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reactor for recovering metal and a system for recovering metal that can rapidly metal fast using an electrolyzer.
2. Related Art
Valuable metals are usually contained in wastewater, plating wastewater, or washing water produced in the electronic industry including a semiconductor manufacturing process. In particular, a considerable amount of precious metals are contained in wastewater or washing water produced in industrial processes using those precious metals, so there is a need for recovering and recycling them.
Precious metals in wastewater or washing water are generally recovered by an ion exchange method, an activated carbon method, and electrowinning, and the liquid after recovering is neutralized and then thrown out or purified and then reused.
The electrowinning is a method of performing electric reduction on a water solution or an extracting solution containing precious metals into an electrolyte and then extracting desired precious metals on a cathode. The electrowinning can obtain high-purity metals at a time without undergoing a crude metal and can reuse a solvent for extracting because it is recycled in accordance with electrolysis.
However, despite those advantages, the electrowinning is easy to be applied when the concentration of metal ions in a water solution is high, and when the concentration is low, metal ions slowly move to the surface of a cathode, so the recovery rate decreases.
DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART Patent DocumentKorean Patent Application Publication No. 2012-0138912 (published on Dec. 27, 2012)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a reactor for recovering metal and a system for recovering metal that can rapidly recover metal using an electrolyzer.
In an aspect, a reactor for recovering metal is provided. The reactor includes an electrolyzer that receives a water solution containing metal ions from the outside and reduces and extracts metal ions in a water solution on the surface of cathodes, when the water solution is supplied into a reaction space between an anode and the cathodes surrounding the anode, in which the cathodes include a main cathode and a sub-cathode disposed inside the main cathode and separable from the main cathode.
The reduction and extraction of the metal ions may occur on the inner side of the sub-cathode.
The main cathode may have a ring shape and the sub-cathode may have a plate shape and may be wound inside the main cathode.
The sub-cathode may be made of a material that is dissolved by acid that does not dissolve metal to be recovered.
The sub-cathode may be in close contact with the main cathode and may substantially fully cover the inner side of the main cathode.
The anode may be formed in a bar shape and may have a plurality of grooves on the outer side.
The anode may be a hollow part with both ends open and the side of the anode may not be open.
The ratio of the surface area of surface area/cathode of the anode in the reaction space may be larger than 1.
In another aspect, a system for recovering metal is provided. The system includes: a reservoir that keeps a water solution containing metal ions; and an electrolyzer that receives a water solution containing metal ions from the outside and reduces and extracts metal ions in a water solution on the surface of cathodes, when the water solution is supplied into a reaction space between an anode and the cathodes surrounding the anode, in which the cathodes include a main cathode and a sub-cathode disposed inside the main cathode and separable from the main cathode.
The sub-cathode may substantially fully cover the inner side of the main cathode in close contact with the main cathode, and the reduction and extraction of the metal ions may occur on the inner side of the sub-cathode.
The sub-cathode may be made of a material that is dissolved by acid that does not dissolve metal to be recovered.
The anode may be formed in a bar shape and may have a plurality of grooves on the outer side.
The anode may be a hollow part with both ends open and the side of the anode may not be open.
The ratio of the surface area of surface area/cathode of the anode in the reaction space may be larger than 1.
The system may further include a solid-liquid separator that receives a water solution discharged from the electrolyzer and separates metal particles.
The system may further include: an assistant tank that is disposed between the electrolyzer and the solid-liquid separator; and a controller that reduces a water solution supplied to the electrolyzer when the level of the assistant tank is a first level or more, and that reduces a water solution supplied to the solid-liquid separator when the level of the assistant tank is a second level, which is smaller than the first level, or less.
According to the present invention, there are provided a reactor for recovering metal and a system for recovering metal that can rapidly recover metal using an electrolyzer.
Hereinafter, a reactor for recovering metal and a system for recovering metal according to the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.
The system for recovering metal includes an electrolyzer 100 (reactor for recovering metal), an assistant tank 200, a solid-liquid separator 300, and a reservoir 400. There are provided pumps 501 and 502 and valves 601, 602, 603, and 604 for transporting and blocking a water solution containing metal ions and/or metal particles to be recovered (hereafter, referred to as ‘water solution’). Further, there are provided a level measurer 210 for measuring the level of the assistant tank 200 and a timer 800 for measuring the operation time of the solid-liquid separator 300, and the system includes a controller 700 that controls operation of the pumps 501 and 502 and the valves 601, 602, 603, and 603 on the basis of signals inputted from the level measurer 210 and the timer 800.
The electrolyzer 100 receives a water solution from the reservoir and takes (recovers) metal from the water solution using cyclone electrowinning method. The electrolyzer 100 will be described in detail again.
The assistant tank 200 receives the electrowon water solution from the electrolyzer 100. The assistant tank functions as a buffer between the electrolyzer 100 and the solid-liquid separator 300 and solves problems with operational stability that may be caused by a flow rate difference between the first pump 501 and the second pump 502. The assistant tank 200 has a level sensor 210 and the level sensor 210 senses whether the level of the assistant tank 200 is within an appropriate range, over an upper limit, or under a lower limit. The level sensor 210 may be achieved using various ways, such as using the entire weight or pressure of the assistant tank 200.
The solid-liquid separator 300 separates granular metal from a water solution. The granular metal may be produced, when metal electrowon by the electrolyzer 100 grows and divided. The solid-liquid separator 300, though not limited, may include a filter capable of separating particles.
The water solution with metal particles separated by the solid-liquid separator 300 is sent back into the reservoir 400.
A water solution containing metals to be recovered which is supplied from plating process etc. and a water solution with metals recovered through the electrolyzer 100 and the solid-liquid separator 300 are mixed in the reservoir 400. In another embodiment, the water solution passing through the electrolyzer 100 and the solid-liquid separator 300 may be treated through additional equipment/process without being mixed with the water solution supplied from plating process etc.
The system for recovering metal further includes a washing unit capable of washing the solid-liquid separator. The washing unit is composed of a washing water supplier, valves 603 and 604, a washing water discharger, and a washing water line.
The electrolyzer 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to
Referring to
The electrolytic cell 10 is a part for providing a space for an electrowinning process to be described below. In the embodiment, the electrolytic cell 10 is formed in a cyclone shape and has a body 11 and a conical part 15.
In the embodiment, the body 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a uniform diameter from the top to the bottom. An inlet 12 is formed at a side of the body 11, through the inner side and the outer side so that a water solution to be described below can flow inside. An inlet port 13 guiding a water solution to the inlet 12 is connected to the inlet 12. Further, a connection hole 14 is formed at a side of the body 11 so that a wire for supplying power to the cathodes 20 and 22 to be described below can be inserted.
In the embodiment, the conical part 15 extends from the bottom of the body 11 and has a diameter gradually decreasing as it goes down, so it has an entirely conical shape. An outlet 16 for discharging the water solution in the body 11 is formed at the bottom of the conical part 15. Further, an outlet port 17 for discharging a water solution to the outside is connected to the outlet 16.
Further, a sealing cap 18 for opening/closing the internal space of the body 11 is provided. That is, female threads are formed around the inner side of the upper portion of the body 11 and male threads are formed around the outer side of the sealing cap 18, so the sealing cap 18 is thread-fastened to the body 11. An O-ring 18a is disposed between the sealing cap 18 and the body 11 and ensures sealing.
An insertion hole 18b is formed through the top and the bottom of the sealing cap 18 and the anode 30 having a bar shape to be described below is inserted in the insertion hole 18b. The O-ring 18c is disposed to surround the insertion hole 18b, so it prevents unsealing between the anode 30 and the insertion hole 18b, which will be described below. A pressing cap 19 is thread-fastened to the upper portion of the sealing cap 18 to increase sealing by pressing the O-ring 18c to the top of the sealing cap 18. A through-hole 19c is formed also at the center of the pressing cap 19, so the anode 30 can be fitted therein.
The structure of the cathodes according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.
The cathodes 20 and 22 have an overall cylindrical shape and are fitted inside the body 11. In the embodiment, the cathodes 20 and 22 are formed in an overall cylindrical shape having a uniform diameter from the top to the bottom.
The cathodes 20 and 22 include a main cathode 20 and a sub-cathode 22. The main cathode 20 has a cylindrical shape. The sub-cathode 22 has a plate shape and bends inside the main cathode 20 in assembly. Accordingly, in the embodiment, the main cathode 20 and the sub-cathode 22 are not physically combined and can be separated at any time, if necessary.
An inlet 21 of the main cathode 20 is formed at a position corresponding to the inlet 12 of the body 11 and communicates with the inlet 12 of the body 11. A sub-inlet 23 corresponding to the inlet 21 of the main cathode 20 is formed also at the sub-cathode 22. A water solution containing metal ions flows into the cathodes 20 and 22 through the inlet 12, the inlet 21, and the sub-inlet 23.
In the embodiment, a water solution is required to flow into the cathodes 20 and 22 and generate a turbulent flow, and for this purpose, the flow direction of the water solution flowing into the cathodes 20 and 22 is required to substantially be the direction of a tangent line of the cylindrical cathode. That is, assuming that the cylindrical cathode is a circle, it should be flow inside in the tangential direction at the edge of the circle. The water solution can generate a turbulent flow while rotating along the inner side of the cathodes 20 and 22, only when it flows inside in the tangential direction.
For example, when the water solution flows inside radially toward the center of the cathode, turbulence is not generated in the electrolyte cell 10, so a desired effect cannot be obtained.
The main cathode 20 is electrically connected with a power through the connection hole 14 of the body 11. The main cathode 20 and the sub-cathode 22 are electrically connected in close contact with each other and the sub-cathode 22 is connected to the power through the main cathode 20.
The sub-cathode 22 substantially fully covers the inner side of the main cathode 20, in close contact with the main cathode 20. Accordingly, reduction and extraction of metal ions concentrate on the inner side of the sub-cathode 22. Little or substantially no reduction and extraction of metal ions may occur on the inner side of the main cathode 20. Further, metal ions are little reduced and extracted on the outer side of the sub-cathode 22 too.
It is possible to prevent unnecessary reduction and extraction by coating the inner side of the main cathode 20 and the outer side of the sub-cathode 22, where metal ions are little reduced and extracted, with Teflon.
As an electrowinning process is performed, metal to be recovered is extracted on the inner side of the sub-cathode 22. After the process, the sub-cathode 22 is easily separated from the main cathode 20 and a post process for separating metal to be recovered such as gold from the sub-cathode 22 is performed. When metal that is dissolved in acid is used for the sub-cathode 22, precious metals such as gold or platinum are not dissolved, but only the sub-cathode 22 is dissolved in an acid solution, so precious metals can be easily separated from the cathode. The sub-cathode 22 may be made of, for example, iron, zinc, tin, nickel, or copper.
The main cathode 20 may be made of a material different from the sub-cathode 22, for example, stainless steel or titanium.
As described above, since the sub-cathode 22 is not physically combined with the main cathode 20, it can be easily inserted inside the main cathode 20 and separated after processes. Accordingly, the metal on the surface can be recovered by separating only the sub-cathode 22 after processes. It is possible to start a new process by inserting only a new sub-cathode 22 with the main cathode 20 remaining. Further, since metal is little extracted on the main cathode 20, work such as washing is easy.
On the other hand, when the extraction amount of metal to be recovered increases, the extracted metal can be separated in particles and the separated metal particles are separated by the solid-liquid separator 300. Further, metal having a feature of dendritic growth is easily separated from a cathode and separated by the solid-liquid separator 300.
The anode 30 is formed in a long bar shape and inserted in the electrolyte cell 10 through the through-hole 19c of the pressing cap 19 and the insertion hole 19b of the sealing cap 18. The top of the anode 30 is electrically connected with the power.
The anode 30 is a hollow part, so the inside of the electrolytic cell 10 communicates with the outside through the hollow portion of the anode 30. A water solution in the electrolytic cell 10 falls to the conical part 15 and then, some of the water solution is discharged outside through the outlet 16 at the bottom of the conical part and the other is discharge outside through the anode 30.
A plurality of grooves 32 is formed on the outer side of the anode 30. The grooves 32 circumferentially formed with regular intervals on the anode 30 and have the same width ‘d’ and gap ‘c’. The grooves 32 increase the surface area of the anode 30. The grooves 32 can be formed at a lower cost than through-holes. Forming the grooves 32 is for easily increasing the surface area of the anode 30 in comparison with forming through-holes. Increasing the surface area of the anode 30 by forming the grooves 32 influences a recovery efficiency, which will be described below.
The surface area of the anode 30 can be adjusted by changing the width ‘d’, gap ‘c’, and depth ‘y’ of the grooves 32.
The grooves 32 can be changed in various arrangements and shapes. In another embodiment the grooves 32 may have different widths ‘d’ and may be formed with irregular intervals. Further, the grooves 32 may be formed in the longitudinal direction of the anode or may be formed in the shape of lattices. The cross-section of the grooves 32 may be variously changed such as in a trapezoid or a semicircle, not a rectangle as in the embodiment.
In the embodiment, the anode 30 may be made of titanium, in which the strength is increases by coating the titanium with an iridium oxide. The anode formed by coating titanium with an iridium oxide stably remains in a strong acid solution or a strong alkali solution without be dissolved. Further, the anode 30 may be made of stainless steel, in which the stainless steel may be coated with platinum.
The electrowinning process generally requires high decomposition voltage, and when overvoltage is applied with graphite used as an anode, the surface of the graphite anode weakens and it is worn by high-speed liquid in many cases. However, as in the embodiment, when an electrode formed by coating titanium with an iridium oxide or an electrode formed by coating stainless steel with platinum is used, it is not worn even at high overvoltage and a high flow speed due to its own mechanical strength and maintained the original shape, so stability is high.
The reason that the electrolyzer 100 according to the present invention can effectively recover metal even at low concentration of metal ions has been explained in detail in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2012-0138921 invented by the inventors of present application.
A method of recovering metal using the system for recovering metal described above is described hereafter.
A water solution in the reservoir 400 is supplied to the electrolyzer 100 by the first pump 501. In detail, it is supplied to the electrolyzer 100 through the inlet 12 of the electrolyzer 100. Power is connected to the cathodes 20 and 22 and the anode 30 of the electrolyzer 100.
The water solution is sent into the electrolyzer 100 at an inflow speed of 2˜20 m/sec. When it is sent at a speed less than 2 m/sec, it cannot generate a turbulent flow in the cathodes, so desired result cannot be achieved, and when the speed is larger than 10 m/sec, it is not economical.
The water solution flows inside in the tangential direction of the cathodes 20 and 22 and moves down while rotating along the inner side of the cathodes 20 and 22, in which some of the water solution is discharged out of the conical part 15 through the outlet 16 and some flows into the hollow portion of the cathode 30 and is discharged up to the outside. The water solution flowing inside in the tangential direction of the electrolytic cell having a cyclone shape is discharged outside through the anode while generating a rising current at the lower portion inside the electrolytic cell.
The anode 30 and the cathodes 20 and 22 are electrically connected by the water solution in the electrolytic cell, and metal ions such as gold, silver, and platinum is reduced by electrons from the cathodes and extracted in a solid state on the sub-cathode 22.
Metal can be effectively recovered through electrowinning in the related art, generally, when 3 g/L or more metal ions are in a water solution, but in the present invention, electrowinning is possible even at a concentration of metal ions of 0.3 g/L or less and this is because the movement speed of metal ions is high due to the cyclone type electrolytic cell.
The water solution generates a turbulent flow in the electrolytic cell and the generation of a turbulent flow can be found even from the relationship between a dimensionless Reynolds number (Re) showing a flow speed and a dimensionless Sherwood number (Sh) showing mass transfer.
Generation of a turbulent flow is based on the inherent geometrical features of a cyclone. In the turbulent flow, mass transfer of metal ions rapidly increases. That is, a diffusion layer that is the distance of diffusion of metal ions becomes thin, so the distance that the metal ions diffuse to the surface of a cathode relatively decreases, and accordingly, the reaction speed increases. Further, particularly, random fluctuation of metal ions that is an inherent feature of a turbulent is generated, so the metal ions are suddenly moved to the surface of a cathode and accordingly mass transfer is rapidly increased.
After the electrolysis, the water solution discharged through the outlet 16 of the electrolytic cell 100 and the anode 30 is supplied to the assistant tank 200. The assistant tank 200 functions as a buffer between the electrolyzer 100 and the solid-liquid separator 300. That is, it removes stability in processes that may be caused by a difference between the flow rate through the pump 501 supplying a water solution to the electrolyzer 100 and the flow rate through the pump 502 supplying a water solution to the solid-liquid separator 300 from the electrolyzer 100.
The water solution in the assistant tank 200 is supplied to the solid-liquid separator 300 by the second pump 502. Metal particles are separated from the water solution in the solid-liquid separator 300 so that only the liquid is supplied to the reservoir 400.
The metal electrodeposited on the assistant cathode 22 in the electrolyzer 100 and the metal separated by the solid-liquid separator 300 are recovered after the operation continues for a predetermined time and then the process is stopped, and then the operation is started again.
In the process recovering metal described above, continuous operation is stably made by the assistant tank 200, so economic value is very increased. Further, metal that is easy to separate from the cathodes 20 and 22 is effectively recovered by the solid-liquid separator 300 and continuous operation is stably performed. Further, it is possible to effectively process a water solution having two or more components with different recovery features simultaneously using the electrolyzer 100 and the solid-liquid separator 300.
Operation when there is a problem with the level of the assistant tank 200 and when the solid-liquid separator 300 is washed, which is different from the process in the normal state described above, is described hereafter.
The case when there is a problem with the level of the assistant tank 200 is described first with reference to
Even in a normal operation (S100), the flow rate of the assistant tank 200 is the changed by the difference between the flow rates through the pumps 501 and 502. When the flow rate to the electrolyzer 100 is larger than the flow rate to the solid-liquid separator 300, the level of the assistant tank 200 is continuously decreased, and in the opposite case, the level of the assistant tank 200 is continuously increased. When the decreased level and the increased level become a predetermined level or more, the assistant tank 200 cannot appropriately function as a buffer.
The controller 700 receives a level value from the level sensor 210 of the assistant tank 200 and determines whether the level is or not between a high level and a low level (5110).
When the level value is very low, under the low level, the controller 700 stops the second pump 502 supplying a water solution to the solid-liquid separator 300 (S120). Accordingly, the level of the assistant tank 200 increases. After a predetermined time passes, the controller 700 checks again the level, and when the level is between the high level and the low level, it performs the normal operation by operating the second pump 502 (S140).
In another embodiment, the controller 700 can restart the pump 502, when the level of the assistant tank 200 becomes a predetermined level between the low level and the high level (for example, 50%, 60%, and 70%) after the second pump 502 is stopped. Further, it may be possible to reduce the work flow rate without stopping the second pump 502.
When the level value is very high, over the high level, the controller 700 stops the first pump 501 supplying a water solution to the electrolyzer 100 (S130). Accordingly, the level of the assistant tank 200 decreases. After a predetermined time passes, the controller 700 checks again the level, and when the level is between the high level and the low level, it performs the normal operation by operating the first pump 501 (S140).
In another embodiment, the controller 700 can restart the first pump 501, when the level of the assistant tank 200 becomes a predetermined level between the low level and the high level (for example, 30%, 40%, and 50%) after the first pump 501 is stopped. Further, it may be possible to reduce the flow rate without stopping the first pump 501.
In another embodiment, when the level of the assistant tank 200 is low, the controller 600 can increase of the flow rate through the first pump 501 and decrease the flow rate through the second pump 502, and then the level of the assistant tank 200 is high, the controller can decrease the flow rate through the pump 501 and increase the flow rate through the pump 502. Further, this adjustment may be always performed so that the level of the assistant tank 200 is a predetermined level (for example, 40%, 50%, and 60%).
As the level of the assistant tank 200 is controlled, as described above, the assistant tank 200 can keep stably functioning as a buffer, so the reliability of the continuous process is improved.
Next, the operation when the solid-liquid separator 300 is washed is described with reference to
During the normal operation, when the controller 600 determines that it is time to wash, washing is started. The controller 600 can determine the start of washing at each predetermined operation time on the basis of time information received from the timer 800.
In another embodiment, the controller 600 can determine the start of washing on the basis of the pressure of the solid-liquid separator 300 (washing is started when the pressure becomes a predetermined level or more), and the metal concentration in a water solution may be considered in determining the start of washing (washing is started earlier when the metal concentration is high).
When start of washing is determined, first, the first pump 501 for supplying a water solution to the electrolyzer 100 and the first valve 601 at the outlet of the assistant tank 200 are turned off (S210). Next, the second pump 502 for supplying a water solution to the solid-liquid separator 300 and the second valve 602 at the outlet of the solid-liquid separator 300 are turned off (S220). Accordingly, the flow of a water solution is removed in the electrolyzer 100 and the solid-liquid separator 300.
Next, the washing unit is started. In detail, the third valve 603 connected to the washing water supplier, the second pump 502 connected to the solid-liquid separator 300, and the fourth valve 604 connected to the washing water discharger are turned on (S230). Accordingly, a washing process in which washing water is supplied from the washing water supplier to the solid-liquid separator 300, washes the solid-liquid separator 300, and then discharge to the washing water discharger is performed (S240).
When the washing is finished, the washing water supply is stopped by turning off the third valve 603, and the second pump 502 and the fourth valve 604 are also turned off (S250). Accordingly, the washing water supplier and the washing water discharger are separated from the solid-liquid separator 300 and the operation of the washing unit is stopped.
After the washing process described above is finished, the normal state operation (S260) is performed.
The system for recovering metal described above may be changed in various ways. In particular, a plurality of electrolyzers 100 and/or the solid-liquid separators 300 may be provided to achieve stable operation and continuous operation.
When the electrolyzers 100 are provided in parallel and metal electrodeposited by any one of the electrolyzers 100 is recovered, a continuous process can be maintained by another electrolyzer 100.
When the solid-liquid separators 300 are provided in parallel and any one of the solid-liquid separators 300 is washed or metal is recovered from a filter, the continuous process can be maintained by another solid-liquid separator 300.
The recovery behavior of recovering metal depends on the area ratio of anode/cathode.
A recovery behavior according to an area ratio of anode/cathode is described with reference to
In order to observe the recovery behavior according to the area of an anode, the area ratio of anode/cathode was changed to 0.42, 0.55, 0.67, 0.79, 0.93, and 1.02 by changing the area of the anode. The material of the anode was SUS 304, the flow rate was fixed to 7.7 M/s (145 LPM), and the total applied current was 51.3 A, twice the electrorefining reference current density (550 A/e).
From this result, it could be found that the area ratio of anode/cathode is preferably larger than 1 to increase the earlier recovery ratio. In detail, the area ratio of anode/cathode may be 1 to 1.5 or 1 to 1.2
The configuration of a cathode according to a second embodiment is described in detail with reference to
In the second embodiment, a cathode connection hole 21a corresponding to the connection hole 14 of the body 11 is formed at the main cathode 20. The sub-cathode 22 can be connected directly to a power through the connection hole 14 and the cathode connection hole 21a.
The configuration of a cathode according to a third embodiment is described in detail with reference to
In the third embodiment, the sub-cathode 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Accordingly, it can be quickly inserted into the main cathode 20. When metal is recovered after a process, the sub-cathode 22 may be cut into a plate shape, if necessary.
The configuration of a cathode according to a fourth embodiment is described in detail with reference to
In the fourth embodiment, projections 24 are formed on the surface of the sub-cathode 12 that is brought in contact with the main cathode 20. The sub-cathode 22 can be more surely electrically connected to the main cathode 20 by the projections 24. The projections 24 may be changed into various shapes and arrangements, for example, into the shape of a line or a lattice.
A recovery behaviors according to the materials of an anode are described with reference to
The anode coated with platinum looks light have a slightly larger recover ratio at the earlier stage of the test, but it was found that there is little difference from the earlier stage in the recovery behavior. However, the surfaces of the anodes observed after the test were considerably different. That is, as for the SUS anode, there was considerable corrosion on the surface, so it is expected to have an adverse influence on the purity of the recovered gold. As for the anode coated with platinum, elution was maximally suppressed and the purity of the gold maintained almost at 100%.
Recovery behaviors according to applied currents are described with reference to
Total currents of 38.5 A, 51.3 A, and 76.9 A were applied with respect to the area of an anode, by selecting 1.5 times, two times, and three times the electrorefining reference current density. In the tests, when a current of 76.9 A was applied, resistant heat was generated too much at the joint of the anode and the cathode, so a portion of a hydrocyclone was melted. Accordingly, the test for the current was stopped and recover behaviors under the other conditions were shown in
Considering only the recovery ratio of the gold, it is important to increase the current density, but considering the entire energy consumption efficiency, it is considered that it is preferable to perform recovering at a high speed under applied current of 35 A to 45 A.
Recovery behaviors at flow rates of 5.3 m/s (100 LPM) and 7.7 m/s (145 LPM) were observed. Similar to the tests with different current densities, in this case, the recovery ratio behaviors were different only at the earlier stages of the tests. That is, the remaining concentration of gold at the flow rate of 7.7 m/s was 26.4 ppm and 4.1 ppm, respectively, after 22 minutes and 45 minutes passed, and was 45.4 ppm and 6.3 ppm at 5.3 m/s. After 180 minutes passed, the remaining concentration was 1.5 ppm and 1.6 ppm, so it can be found that as the time passes, the recovery ratio behaviors become similar and converge to the same value.
The recovery ratio behavior according to a change in applied current and the recovery ratio behavior according to a change in flow rate show similar tendencies, but when the earlier recovery ratio is important, it is considered that it is more effective to increase the flow rate rather than the applied current.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, those are only examples and may be changed and modified into other equivalent exemplary embodiments from the present invention by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the actual protection range of the present invention should be determined only by the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A reactor for recovering metal, comprising an electrolyzer that receives a water solution containing metal ions from the outside and reduces and extracts metal ions in the water solution on the surface of cathodes, when the water solution is supplied into a reaction space between an anode and the cathodes surrounding the anode,
- wherein the cathodes include a main cathode and a sub-cathode disposed inside the main cathode and separable from the main cathode.
2. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the reduction and extraction of the metal ions occur on the inner side of the sub-cathode.
3. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the main cathode has a ring shape and the sub-cathode has a plate shape and is wound inside the main cathode.
4. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the sub-cathode is made of a material that is dissolved by acid that does not dissolve metal to be recovered.
5. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the sub-cathode is in close contact with the main cathode and substantially fully covers the inner side of the main cathode.
6. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the anode is formed in a bar shape and has a plurality of grooves on the outer side.
7. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the anode is a hollow part with both ends open and the side of the anode is not open.
8. The reactor of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the surface area of surface area/cathode of the anode in the reaction space is larger than 1.
9. A system for recovering metal, comprising a reservoir that keeps a water solution containing metal ions; and an electrolyzer that receives the water solution from the outside and reduces and extracts metal ions in the water solution on the surface of cathodes, when the water solution is supplied into a reaction space between an anode and the cathodes surrounding the anode,
- wherein the cathodes include a main cathode and a sub-cathode disposed inside the main cathode and separable from the main cathode.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sub-cathode substantially fully covers the inner side of the main cathode in close contact with the main cathode, and
- the reduction and extraction of the metal ions occur on the inner side of the sub-cathode.
11. The reactor of claim 9, wherein the sub-cathode is made of a material that is dissolved by acid that does not dissolve metal to be recovered.
12. The reactor of claim 9, wherein the anode is formed in a bar shape and has a plurality of grooves on the outer side.
13. The reactor of claim 9, wherein the anode is a hollow part with both ends open and the side of the anode is not open.
14. The reactor of claim 9, wherein the ratio of the surface area of surface area/cathode of the anode in the reaction space is larger than 1.
15. The system of claim 9, further comprising a solid-liquid separator that receives a water solution discharged from the electrolyzer and separates metal particles.
16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:
- an assistant tank that is disposed between the electrolyzer and the solid-liquid separator; and
- a controller that reduces a water solution supplied to the electrolyzer when the level of the assistant tank is a first level or more, and that reduces the water solution supplied to the solid-liquid separator when the level of the assistant tank is a second level, which is smaller than the first level, or less.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2016
Inventors: Soo Kyung Kim (Sejong), Jeong Soo Sohn (Daejeon), Kang In Rhee (Daejeon), Young Min Oh (Gyeonggi-do), Dong Hyo Yang (Sejong)
Application Number: 14/779,384
