Abstract: Lead is recycled from lead paste of lead acid batteries in a process that employs alkaline desulfurization followed by formation of plumbite that is then electrolytically converted to pure lead. Remaining insoluble lead dioxide is removed from the lead plumbite solution and reduced to produce lead oxide that can be fed back to the recovery system. Sulfate is recovered as sodium sulfate, while the so produced lead oxide can be added to lead paste for recovery.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a front face of a semiconductor wafer is provided. The apparatus includes a main chamber, at least one loading port connected to the main chamber for introducing the wafer to the main chamber, at least one stack of wafer processing modules, and a transfer mechanism for transferring the wafer between the loading port and the processing modules. The at least one stack of wafer processing modules includes three or more substantially vertically stacked wafer processing modules, wherein adjacent wafer processing modules in the stack have a vertical separation of less than 50 cm, and each processing module is configured to process the wafer when disposed substantially horizontally therein with the front face of the wafer facing upwards, and at least one wafer processing module is an electrochemical wafer processing module.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum from alumina includes: at least one anode module having a plurality of anodes; at least one cathode module, opposing the anode module, wherein the at least one cathode module comprises a plurality of cathodes, wherein the plurality of anodes are suspended above the cathode module and extending downwards towards the cathode module, wherein the plurality of cathodes are positioned extending upwards towards the anode module, wherein each of the plurality of anodes and each of the plurality of cathodes are alternatingly positioned, wherein the plurality of anodes is selectively positionable in a horizontal direction relative to adjacent cathodes, wherein the anode module is selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to the cathode module, and wherein a portion of each of the anode electrodes overlap a portion of adjacent cathodes.

Abstract: A flow-through electrolysis cell includes a hierarchical nanoporous metal cathode. A method of reducing CO2 includes flowing the CO2 through the hierarchical nanoporous metal cathode of the flow-through electrolysis cell.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatus for electroplating one or more materials onto a substrate. Typically, the embodiments herein utilize a channeled plate positioned near the substrate, creating a cross flow manifold between the channeled plate and substrate, and on the sides by a flow confinement ring. A seal may be provided between the bottom surface of a substrate holder and the top surface of an element below the substrate holder (e.g., the flow confinement ring). During plating, fluid enters the cross flow manifold through channels in the channeled plate, and through a cross flow inlet, then exits at the cross flow exit, positioned opposite the cross flow inlet. The apparatus may switch between a sealed state and an unsealed state during electroplating, for example by lowering and lifting the substrate and substrate holder as appropriate to engage and disengage the seal.

Abstract: Flow cell systems are provided. Example flow cell systems can include an H+/H2 half-cell and a counterpart Fe3+/Fe2+ or V5+/V4+ half-cell. Flow cell systems can also include a half-cell in fluid communication with an electrolyte regeneration chamber. Embodiments of these flow cells systems can be configured to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. Flow cell battery systems are also disclosed. Example flow cell battery systems can include an H+/H2 analyte; and a counterpart Fe3+/Fe2+ or V5+/V4+ catholyte. Processes for generating hydrogen are also disclosed. Example processes can include generating protons from a Fe3+/Fe2+ or V5+/V4+ electrolyte solution; and reacting the protons with H2O to form H2.

Abstract: An organic hydride production apparatus that enables the reduction reaction at the cathode of an organic compound having an unsaturated bond to proceed at high current efficiency and at a low electric power consumption rate, and a method for producing an organic hydride that uses this production apparatus.

Abstract: To suppress thicknesses of a plating film of dies adjacent to a portion in which patterns are not formed on a resist, and improve uniformity of a plated metal layer thickness in a substrate surface. A substrate holder according to the present invention has: a holding surface 57 for holding a substrate; a second holding member 60 configured to have an opening part 63 for exposing the holding surface 57, and to press the substrate placed on the holding surface 57 against the holding surface 57 to thereby hold the substrate; and a shielding plate 65 configured to protrude to an inside of the opening part 63 of the second holding member 60 in a radial direction and to shield a part of the holding surface 57. The shielding plate 65 is configured to be movable along the opening part 63.

Abstract: A method of recovering metals from electronic waste comprises providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor and providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor. The method further includes contacting the powders within the first reactor and the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from each reactor into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The ferrous ions are oxidized at an anode of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions. The powder within the second reactor comprises a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor. Additional methods of recovering metals from electronic waste are also described, as well as an apparatus of recovering metals from electronic waste.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] A cation exchange membrane that has sufficient mechanical strength and at the same time has high impurity resistance, suffers little cathode surface damage, and exhibits stable electrolytic characteristics is provided. [Solution] A cation exchange membrane comprising: a membrane body comprising a fluorine-containing polymer having an ion exchange group; and a reinforcement core material arranged inside the membrane body, wherein raised portions having a height of 20 ?m or more in cross-sectional view are formed on at least one surface of the membrane body, an arrangement density of the raised portions on the surface of the membrane body is 20 to 1500/cm2, a plurality of opening portions are formed on the surface of the membrane body, and a proportion of a total area of the opening portions to an area of the surface of the membrane body (opening area ratio) is in a range of 0.4 to 15%.

Abstract: A plating apparatus that reduces a terminal effect is provided. The plating apparatus is provided. The plating apparatus includes a substrate holder for holding a substrate as a plating object, an electric contact disposed on the substrate holder to apply a current to a substrate, and a plurality of anodes arranged to face the substrate holder. Each of the plurality of anodes has a long and thin shape. Each of the plurality of anodes is arranged such that a longitudinal direction of the anode is parallel to a surface of a substrate held onto the substrate holder and such that at least one end in the longitudinal direction of each of the anodes faces the electric contact of the substrate holder.

Abstract: An electrochemical reactor includes an ion ON/OFF surface switch operating as an ionic conductor, which includes a pair of electrodes, an electrolyte aqueous solution present between the pair of electrodes, a water-repellent porous fluororesin membrane disposed such that at least one surface thereof is in contact with the electrolyte aqueous solution and including a plurality of pores communicating with each other and a pressing equipment configured to pressurize the electrolyte aqueous solution. As such, electrolysis, a secondary battery and a capacitor, which uses the water-repellent porous fluororesin membrane as an ion ON/OFF surface switch, can be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrochemically depositing a unitary layer structure using a reactor configured to contain an electrolyte solution with an anode array containing a plurality of independently electrically controllable anodes arranged in a two-dimensional array, a cathode, an addressing circuit for receiving a signal containing anode address data and for outputting a signal causing an anode array pattern; and, a controller. in communication with the addressing circuit and the anode array, configured to electrically control each anode in the anode array to cause an electrochemical reaction at the cathode that deposits a unitary layer structure according to the anode array pattern signal.

Abstract: A cathode catalyst used for conversion of a carbon dioxide gas by an electrochemical reduction includes at least one first catalyst layer and at least one second catalyst layer disposed on a surface of the at least one first catalyst layer. The at least one second catalyst layer is a porous structure. The at least one first catalyst layer and the at least one second catalyst layer are physically combined with each other, and materials of the at least one first catalyst layer and the at least one second catalyst layer are different. A cathode material and a reactor include the cathode catalyst are also provided.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell includes: a cartridge assembly including: a plurality of bipolar electrode plates spaced apart and guide members formed on both sides of the plurality of bipolar electrode plates; a cell body having: a first side; a second side opposite the first side; an opening that extends through the first and second sides to form a housing that receives the cartridge assembly; a first end having an inlet that allows liquid to enter the housing of the cell body and a second end having an outlet that allows liquid to exit the housing of the cell body; a first terminal cap that connects to the first side of the cell body and which has a cathode plate; and a second terminal cap that connects to the second side of the cell body and which has an anode plate.

Abstract: A method of electrochemically reducing CO2 comprises introducing a first feed stream comprising H2O to a positive electrode of an electrolysis cell comprising the positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a proton conducting membrane. A second feed stream comprising a solvent and a non polar form of a switchable polarity material is directed into a CO2 capture apparatus. A third feed stream comprising CO2 is directed into the CO2 capture apparatus to interact with the second feed stream and form a first product stream comprising the solvent and a polar form of the switchable polarity material. The first product stream is introduced to the negative electrode. A potential difference is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to convert the polar form of the switchable polarity material into CO2 and the non-polar form and to form products from the CO2 and the solvent. A CO2 treatment system is also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an IrO2 electrodeposited porous titanium composite layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis apparatus serving as both a diffusion layer and an oxygen electrode, the apparatus including: a porous titanium (Ti) layer; and an electrodeposited iridium oxide (IrO2) layer on the porous Ti layer. The IrO2 layer may be uniformly deposited on a porous Ti layer through an electrolysis process, and the electrodeposited IrO2 layer may play multiple roles as not only a catalyst layer toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the surface of the Ti layer, but also a corrosion-protection layer which prevents an inner Ti layer from corrosion.

Abstract: The invention concerns non-ferrous metallurgy, in particular the composition of an electrolyte for electrically obtaining aluminum by the electrolysis of fluoride melts. The electrolyte proposed contains, in % by weight: sodium fluoride 26-43, potassium fluoride up to 12, lithium fluoride up to 5, calcium fluoride 2-6, alumina 2-6, aluminum fluoride and admixtures—the remainder. The technical result is to increase the solubility of alumina in the electrolyte at a temperature of 830-930° C. In the electrolyte being applied for, the carbon and inert electrode materials are not destroyed, and the use of special methods to purify the aluminum of melt components is not required.

Abstract: A process for recovering copper from copper sulfide minerals, the method comprising the steps of leaching copper sulfide minerals with an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride containing cupric chloride at a temperature of between about 40° C. and about 95° C. at atmospheric pressure, to produce a solution of cuprous/cupric chloride.

Abstract: Methods and electroplating systems for controlling plating electrolyte concentration on an electrochemical plating apparatus for substrates are disclosed. A method involves: (a) providing an electroplating solution to an electroplating system; (b) electroplating the metal onto the substrate while the substrate is held in a cathode chamber of an electroplating cell of electroplating system; (c) supplying the make-up solution to the electroplating system via a make-up solution inlet; and (d) supplying the secondary electroplating solution to the electroplating system via a secondary electroplating solution inlet. The secondary electroplating solution includes some or all components of the electroplating solution. At least one component of the secondary electroplating solution has a concentration that significantly deviates from its target concentration.