Abstract
50 Amp and 1000 Amp cells equipped with fluidized bed cathodes were used to investigate the electrowinning of cobalt from sulfate solutions. The catholytes employed ranged in cobalt concentration from 100 to 4.8 grams per liter of cobalt and from acid (pH ≃1) to near neutral (pH ≃6). Superficial current densities up to 1.09 A cm−2 were used. The cells were equipped with a nearly impermeable diaphragm, permitting the use of an anolyte of composition different from that of the catholyte. The current efficiency for cobalt deposition (as conveniently determined by measuring the rate of hydrogen evolution), electrical energy consumption, and appearance of the deposit were studied as a function of catholyte composition. Reasonable current efficiencies were observed. The electrical energy consumptions were much higher than that of conventional electrowinning, but this was shown to be due to the anode chamber and diaphragm resistance losses rather than the fluidized cathode.
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