Electrowinning is an electrochemical process used to reduce the metal cations to the cathode surface of an aqueous solution derived from the chemical leaching proces. Electrowinning or often referred to as electroextraction is the electrodeposition of metals from ore minerals that have dissolved into the liquid and will be processed using Electrorefining to remove impurities from the metal. Electrowinning an electrolytic process that is very old in the mining industry.
The English chemist Humphry Davy first obtained sodium metal in the form of the element in 1807 by electrolysis of molten sodium hydroxide. And then in 1847 Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg first to show an experiment about Electrorefining copper. Then James Elkington patented a commercial process in 1865 and successfully opened the first factory in Pembrey, Wales in 1870. The first commercial plant in the United States is Balbach and Sons Refining and smelting Company in Newark, New Jersey in 1883
Electrowinning is applied to a variety of chemical solutions that are found in large mining industry. This process involves the use of alkaline cyanide solution as an electrolyte in a cell as the anode and cathode, among others, can use:
The English chemist Humphry Davy first obtained sodium metal in the form of the element in 1807 by electrolysis of molten sodium hydroxide. And then in 1847 Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg first to show an experiment about Electrorefining copper. Then James Elkington patented a commercial process in 1865 and successfully opened the first factory in Pembrey, Wales in 1870. The first commercial plant in the United States is Balbach and Sons Refining and smelting Company in Newark, New Jersey in 1883
Electrowinning is applied to a variety of chemical solutions that are found in large mining industry. This process involves the use of alkaline cyanide solution as an electrolyte in a cell as the anode and cathode, among others, can use:
ANODE ( - ) | GOLD 99,99 % | STAINLESS STEEL 316 | DICOATING MERKURY COPPER | IRON |
CATHODE
( + )
| SILVER 99,99 | STAINLESS STEEL 316 | TIN | ALUMINUM |
Cell reaction that occurs is: Merkury dicoating Copper, Lead, Iron, Aluminum
Anode: 2OH-→ O2 + H2O + 2e-
Cathode: 2Au (CN) 2 - + 2e-→ 2Au + 4CN-
Overall: 2Au (CN) 2 - + 2OH-→ 2Au + O2 + H2O + 4CN-
Anode: 2OH-→ O2 + H2O + 2e-
Cathode: 2Au (CN) 2 - + 2e-→ 2Au + 4CN-
Overall: 2Au (CN) 2 - + 2OH-→ 2Au + O2 + H2O + 4CN-