Files and links (2)
Published (Version of Record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Ionic mass transfer at point electrodes located at cathode support plate in an electrorefining cell in presence of rectangular turbulent promoters
Sustainability, Vol.14(2), Article 880
2022
Abstract
Current density plays a major role in deciding the plant size, current efficiency, and energy consumption in electrorefining cells. In general, operating current density will be 40% of the limiting current density. Forced circulation of the electrolyte in the presence of promoters improves the mass transfer coefficient. In the present study, rectangular turbulence promoters are fitted at the bottom side of the cell to improve the mass transfer coefficient at the cathode support plate. The limiting current density technique is used to measure the mass transfer coefficient. The variables covered in the present study are the effects of flow rate, promoter height, and spacing among the promoters. The electrolyte consists of copper sulfate and sulphuric acid. At a regulated flow rate, the electrolyte is pumped from the recirculation tank to the cell through an intermediate overhead tank. The limiting current density increased with an increasing flow rate in the presence of promoters, and thus the overall mass transfer coefficient on the cathode support plate also improved. With an increase in the flow rate of the electrolyte from 6.67 × 10−6 to 153.33 m3/s, limiting current density increased from 356.8 to 488.8 A/m2 for spacing of 0.30 m, with a promoter height of 0.01 m. However, it is noteworthy that when the promoter height is increased from 0.01 to 0.07 m, the overall mass transfer coefficient is found to increase up to 60%, but with the further increase in the promoter height to 0.30 m the mass transfer coefficient starts to decrease. Therefore, the optimized cell parameters are established in this work. The current sustainable concept of employing rectangular turbulence promoters will bring benefits to any precious metal refining or electrowinning tank house electrolytes.
Details
- Title
- Ionic mass transfer at point electrodes located at cathode support plate in an electrorefining cell in presence of rectangular turbulent promoters
- Authors/Creators
- T. Subbaiah (Author/Creator)P. Vijetha (Author/Creator)B. Marandi (Author/Creator)K. Sanjay (Author/Creator)M. Minakshi (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Sustainability, Vol.14(2), Article 880
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Identifiers
- 991005544986407891
- Copyright
- © 2022 by the authors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Energy
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
Metrics
29 File views/ downloads
84 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 2 Chemistry
- 2.210 Corrosion & Deposition Chemistry
- 2.210.791 Electrodeposition
- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology