Abstract: An electrowinning process for the recovery of various metals including copper, zinc and nickel from an aqueous electrolyte in an electrolytic cell containing anodes and cathodes is disclosed wherein the anodes are formed from a lead alloy containing from about 0.05% to about 0.25% by weight strontium. The lead alloy for the anodes also preferably includes from about 0.005% to about 0.1% by weight aluminum alone or in further combination with either about 0.1% to about 5.0% by weight tin or at least 0.01% by weight silver, the lead alloy anodes having a hard, adherent oxide surface layer preferably formed in situ within the electrolytic cell.

Abstract: A method for casting an insoluble anode for use in the electrowinning of copper, the anode being formed by casting molten lead alloy preferably including calcium as an alloying agent in a suitable mold necessary flow of the molten alloy being minimized within the mold, the temperature of the molten alloy and the temperature of the mold being selected to minimize the time necessary for solidification of the molten alloy within the mold, the lead alloy anode preferably being removed from the mold substantially as soon as it is mechanically self-supporting and rapidly cooling the anode in an unstressed configuration to freeze its grain structure and develop dimensional stability. The present invention also relates to a lead alloy casting produced by the above method as well as to an insoluble anode formed from a lead alloy including calcium as an alloying agent, the anode being characterized by the uniform precipitate distribution illustrated in FIG. 7 and the surface finish illustrated in FIG. 9.

Abstract: A method for casting an insoluble anode for use in the electrowinning of copper, the anode being formed by casting molten lead alloy preferably including calcium as an alloying agent in a suitable mold, necessary flow of the molten alloy being minimized within the mold, the temperature of the molten alloy and the temperature of the mold being selected to minimize the time necessary for solidification of the molten alloy within the mold, the lead alloy anode preferably being removed from the mold substantially as soon as it is mechanically self-supporting and rapidly cooling the anode in an unstressed configuration to freeze its grain structure and develop dimensional stability. The present invention also relates to a lead alloy casting produced by the above method as well as to an insoluble anode formed from a lead alloy including calcium as an alloying agent, the anode being characterized by the uniform precipitate distribution illustrated in FIG. 7 and the surface finish illustrated in FIG. 9.

Abstract: An anode casting machine for casting lead or lead alloy anodes used in copper electrowinning process comprising a pair of open face mold plates, means for uniting said mold plates, means for securing said mold plates in a liquid tight configuration about a hanger bar, ladle means for introducing lead or lead alloy into said mold, means for stabilizing mold temperature, means for separating said mold plates to facilitate removal of said anode, and means for transferring lead or lead alloy from a melting pot to said ladle means.