Effect of additives on anode passivation in direct electrolysis process of copper—nickel based alloy scraps

Abstract

Effects of nickel component, thiourea, glue and chloride ions and their interactions on the passivation of copper—nickel based alloy scrap anodes were investigated by combining conventional electrochemical techniques. Results obtained from chronopotentiometry and linear voltammetry curves showed that the Ni component made electrochemical stability of the anode strong and difficult to be corroded, caused by the adsorption of generated Cu₂O, NiO or copper powder to the anode surface. The Ni²⁺ reducing Cu²⁺ to Cu⁺ or copper powder aggravated the anode passivation. In a certain range of the glue concentration ≤8×10^-6 or thiourea concentration ≤4×10^-6, the increase of glue or thiourea concentration increases the anode passivation time. Over this range, glue and thiourea played an adverse effect. The increase of chloride ions concentration led to the increase in passivation time.

Keywords

copper—nickel based alloy scrap / direct electrolysis / nickel component / anode passivation / additive

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