Abstract: In an electrolytic tank wherein cathode sheets and anode plates are arranged alternately close to each other and wherein the cathode sheets are attached to cathode bars being in contact with current rails of the tank, there is provided a method and a device for detecting and eliminating short-circuits between cathodes and anodes, in which method and apparatus the total current of each cathode bar is determined by measuring a current dependent quantity, such as the magnetic field, the temperature or similar, thereof, a short-circuit condition is recognized if the determined current exceeds a predetermined value, and, whenever such short-circuit is thus detected, the cathode sheet in question is replaced with a fresh cathode sheet by a device which is movable along rails or similar above the cathode/anode row and which is provided with a fork member or similar for lifting the defect sheet and for lowering the new sheet to replace the one removed.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the smelting of a material containing noble metals, especially anode slime produced in the electrolytic copper process, in order to recover the noble metals, whereby slag-forming materials are mixed with the material containing noble metals, whereafter the mixture is smelted in an induction furnace to produce a metal phase and a slag phase, the slag is then removed at least partly before the melt is exposed to an oxidizing treatment in the same or in another induction furnace, and finally the refined metal is recovered.