Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a zinc electrowinning anode capable of inhibiting manganese compound deposition on the anode and a cobalt electrowinning anode capable of inhibiting cobalt oxyhydroxide deposition on the anode. The zinc electrowinning anode according to the present invention is a zinc electrowinning anode having an amorphous iridium oxide-containing catalytic layer formed on a conductive substrate, and the zinc electrowinning method according to the present invention is an electrowinning method using that electrowinning anode. Also, the cobalt electrowinning anode according to the present invention is an electrowinning anode having an amorphous iridium oxide or ruthenium oxide-containing catalytic layer formed on a conductive substrate, and the cobalt electrowinning method according to the present invention is an electrowinning method using that electrowinning anode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of providing an electric current taker made from silver and having a highly electroconductive contact surface into an aluminium support bar to be used in electrolysis.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes are disclosed for electrowinning metal from a fluid stream. A representative apparatus comprises at least one spouted bed reactor wherein each said reactor includes an anolyte chamber comprising an anode and configured for containing an anolyte, a catholyte chamber comprising a current collector and configured for containing a particulate cathode bed and a flowing stream of an electrically conductive metal-containing fluid, and a membrane separating said anolyte chamber and said catholyte chamber, an inlet for an electrically conductive metal-containing fluid stream; and a particle bed churning device configured for spouting particle bed particles in the catholyte chamber independently of the flow of said metal-containing fluid stream. In operation, reduced heavy metals or their oxides are recovered from the cathode particles.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a zinc electrowinning anode capable of inhibiting manganese compound deposition on the anode and a cobalt electrowinning anode capable of inhibiting cobalt oxyhydroxide deposition on the anode. The zinc electrowinning anode according to the present invention is a zinc electrowinning anode having an amorphous iridium oxide-containing catalytic layer formed on a conductive substrate, and the zinc electrowinning method according to the present invention is an electrowinning method using that electrowinning anode. Also, the cobalt electrowinning anode according to the present invention is an electrowinning anode having an amorphous iridium oxide or ruthenium oxide-containing catalytic layer formed on a conductive substrate, and the cobalt electrowinning method according to the present invention is an electrowinning method using that electrowinning anode.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a metal powder product using either conventional electrowinning or alternative anode reaction chemistries in a flow-through electrowinning cell. A new design for a flow-through electrowinning cell that employs both flow-through anodes and flow-through cathodes is described. The present invention enables the production of high quality metal powders, including copper powder, from metal-containing solutions using conventional electrowinning processes, direct electrowinning, or alternative anode reaction chemistry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for achieving a good contact surface on an aluminium electrode support bar used in electrolysis. In the method the support bar is fabricated as a continuous bar and a highly electroconductive layer is formed on its end. The highly electroconductive layer forms a metallic bond with the support bar and can be achieved for example with thermal spray coating. The invention also relates to an electrode support bar, the end of which is coated with a highly electroconductive material.

Abstract: A system and method of characterizing, in particular sequencing, polymeric samples, the system comprising: a space-time map generator for generating a space-time map of points representative of the signal peaks of signals detected at a plurality of spaced positions as passed by the migrating components of a plurality of separately-provided sample plugs; and a vertex finder for identifying vertices from the space-time map, with a single vertex being identified for the components of each separately-provided sample plug and the velocities of the sample components being determinable from the points in the space-time map.

Abstract: An analysis system for and method of enabling determination of the velocities of migrating objects, the system comprising an equiphase space-time map generator for generating an equiphase space-time map of equiphase points from each of a plurality of data sets representative of the signals detected at a plurality of spaced positions, with the velocities of the objects being determinable by fitting the sets of equiphase points in the space-time map corresponding to the respective objects.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of obtaining a good current contact on the support bar of a cathode used in electrolysis. In this method a highly electroconductive layer is formed on the contact piece on the end of the support bar of the cathode, especially at the point that comes into contact with the electrolysis cell busbar. The electroconductive layer forms a metallic bond with the contact piece of the support bar. The disclosure also relates to the cathode support bar, wherein a highly electroconductive layer is formed to the contact piece on the end of said bar, in particular the area that touches the electrolysis cell busbar.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods useful in the acceleration of binding of target analytes to capture ligands on surfaces. Detection proceeds through the use of an electron transfer moiety (ETM) that is associated with the target analyte, either directly or indirectly, to allow electronic detection of the ETM.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low corrosion electrochemical process for preparing zinc metal which comprises electrochemically reducing an aqueous basic solution or slurry of zinc oxide or any other zinc compound that reacts with an aqueous base to produce zinc oxide, wherein the electrochemical process is carried out in an undivided electrochemical cell, and wherein air or nitrogen is bubbled in through the solution or slurry of zinc oxide or said other zinc compound during said electrochemical process.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical process for preparing zinc powder which involves: a) providing to an electrochemical cell a basic solution of zinc oxide or any other zinc compound that reacts with an aqueous base to produce zinc oxide, the basic solution prepared by dissolving the zinc oxide or the other zinc compound in an aqueous 2.5 to 10.0 M base solution; and b) passing current to the cell at a current density of about 10,000 to about 40,000 A/m2 for a time period sufficient to electrochemically reduce the zinc oxide to zinc powder, wherein the electrochemical process has a current efficiency of at least 70% and is substantially free from electrode corrosion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous electrochemical process for preparing zinc powder. The process involves providing to an electrochemical cell a suspension in a 1.25 Molar to 10.0 Molar aqueous alkaline solution of zinc oxide or any other zinc compound that reacts with an aqueous alkaline solution to produce zinc oxide, such that the solution or suspension comprises at least 2 millimoles of solubilized zinc based species per 100 grams of electrolyte. Current is passed to the cell at a current density of about 500 to 40,000 A/m2, for a time period sufficient to electrochemically reduce the solubilized zinc based species to zinc powder, while continuously or intermittently adding a sufficient amount of the zinc oxide or the other zinc compound to the cell to maintain the concentration of the solubilized zinc based species at a level of at least 2 millimoles per 100 grams of electrolyte.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for protecting electrowinning anodes having electrocatalytically active coatings in a bank of electrolytic cells from being damaged by reverse currents. In the first embodiment, one or more auxiliary power sources are provided that, when triggered by one or more predetermined conditions being met, keep the bank of electrolytic cells in an electrical state that is relatively harmless to the anodes having electrocatalytically active coatings. In a second embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of maintaining the polarization of anodes in an electrowinning cell positive of the cathodes (i.e. in a potential region where the anode coating is not susceptible to significant damage). In a final embodiment, the invention is directed to various methods for the installation of replacement anodes and maintenance of electrowinning cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous electrochemical process for preparing zinc powder which involves: providing to an electrochemical cell a solution or suspension in an aqueous 1.25 Molar to 10.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical process for preparing zinc powder which involves: a) providing to an electrochemical cell a basic solution of zinc oxide or any other zinc compound that reacts with an aqueous base to produce zinc oxide, the basic solution prepared by dissolving the zinc oxide or the other zinc compound in an aqueous 2.5 to 10.0 M base solution; and b) passing current to the cell at a current density of about 10,000 to about 40,000 A/m2 for a time period sufficient to electrochemically reduce the zinc oxide to zinc powder, wherein the electrochemical process has a current efficiency of at least 70% and is substantially free from electrode corrosion.

Abstract: A coated composite electrode for supporting an anodic electrochemical reaction includes a substrate composed of an electrically conductive metal and a mixture composed of lead and manganese oxides of between about 70 and 90 weight percent and of binders and extenders together being of between about 10 and 30 weight percent. The mixture is in the form of a coating on the substrate which constitutes a site of electrochemical oxidation. The coating is pressed above about 1500 psi pressure and at a temperature within the range of about 25 to 230 degrees C. The composite electrode provides corrosion inhibition for the lead alloy and improved current efficiency in systems with iron, such as copper electrowinning.

Abstract: Zinc metal is deposited from an alkali electrolyte solution onto conductive seed particles in an electrowinning process which yields unusually high current efficiency and low energy consumption.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell comprising bipolar electrodes is employed for electrochemical deposition of copper, zinc, lead, nickel or cobalt. An interior space is provided between the cathode side and the anode side of a bipolar electrode. The electrolyte can flow substantially without an obstruction through the interelectrode space between adjacent electrodes. The current densities in the interelectrode space amount to 800 to 8000 A/m.sup.2. Gas is evolved on the anode side of the bipolar electrodes and causes liquid to flow along the anode side. In the middle of the height of the anode side that liquid flow has a vertical component having a velocity of 5 to 100 cm/second. Electrolyte solution flows from the upper edge portion of the anode side to a return flow space, in which the solution flows downwardly. From the return flow space the solution is returned to the lower portion of the interelectrode space.

Abstract: The anode comprises a substantially horizontal carrying bar, which is disposed outside the electrolyte and serves to supply electric current. Two substantially parallel metal surfaces (anode grids) are electrically conductively connected to the carrying bar and with at least one-half of their surface extending into the electrolyte. The carrying bar comprises a copper conductor, to which at least one vertical copper rod is joined. There is a direct electrically conducting connection between the copper conductor and the copper rod. The copper rod is surrounded by a titanium sheath and is an interference fit in that sheath. The copper rod provided with the titanium sheath is disposed between the two anode grids and is electrically conductively connected to said grids.

Abstract: Zinc metal is deposited on mobile seed particles in an electrowinning process. Exceptionally favorable results in terms of production rate, current efficiency and energy consumption are achieved by using a unique combination of design parameters and operating conditions achieved by selected ranges for particle size, current density, particle bed thickness, and acid content of the electrolyte.

Abstract: Cathode plate aluminum sheet product for use in electrowinning of zinc in sulfuric acid containing electrolyte bath comprises an alloy (a) consisting essentially of about 0.2 to 0.5% magnesium, 0.15% maximum silicon, 0.1% maximum iron, 0.05% maximum copper, and 0.05% maximum zinc, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities, the aluminum amounting to at least 99% of aluminum alloy, or (b) consisting essentially of about 0.08 to 0.23% silicon, 0.1% maximum iron, 0.05% maximum copper, 0.05% maximum magnesium, 0.05% maximum zinc, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities, the aluminum being at least 99.4% of said alloy. The sheet products are work hardened by cold rolling and have a minimum yield strength of at least 14 ksi, preferably at least 15 or 16 ksi, and an electrical conductivity of preferably 58% I.A.C.S. or more together with good corrosion resistance.