Method Of Electrolytic Deposition Of Arsenic From Industrial Electrolytes Including Waste Electrolytes Used In Electrorefining Of Copper After Prior Decopperisation Of Electrolyte

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a method of the electrolytic isolation of arsenic from industrial electrolytes including waste electrolytes used in the electrorafination of copper after its prior decopperisation.

1 . A method of electrolytic isolation of arsenic from a post-refining electrolyte, comprising a single-stage potentiostatic arsenic electrodeposition on a cathode having a potential range of from −1.20 V to −1.70 V in relation to the anode, wherein the electrolyte is not subjected to chemical processing. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the electrodeposition process is conducted at room temperature from 18° C. to 50° C. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anode is a lead alloy anode, or a titanium oxide and iridium anode, and wherein the surface areas of the cathode and anode are comparable. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anode is an acid-resistant steel anode and the anode surface area is at least 5 times greater than the cathode surface area. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cathode is an acid-resistant steel or copper cathode. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the electrodeposition process is conducted with constant electrolyte circulation or mixing. 
     
     
         7 . A method of decopperisation a post-refining electrolyte, comprising a single-stage potentiostatic copper electrodeposition on a cathode having a cathode potential range from −1.00 V to −1.50 V in relation to the acid resistant steel anode, wherein the electrolyte is not subjected to chemical processing. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the electrodeposition process is conducted at room temperature from 18° C. to 50° C. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the anode is a lead alloy anode, or a titanium oxide and iridium anode, and wherein the surface areas of the cathode and anode are comparable. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the anode is an acid-resistant steel anode, and wherein the anode surface area is at least 5-fold greater than the cathode surface area. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the cathode is an acid-resistant steel or copper cathode. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the electrodeposition process is conducted with constant electrolyte circulation or mixing. 
     
     
         13 . A method of post-refining an electrolyte, characterised in that it encompasses:
 the preparation of a post-refining electrolyte according to a the method defined in  claim 7 ; and   the deposition of arsenic according to the method defined in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electrodeposition process is conducted at a temperature of 18° C. to 30° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the electrodeposition process is conducted at a temperature of 18° C. to 30° C.