Mining, Minerals Processing and Metallurgical Engineering

Purification of crude indium by two-stage cyclone electrowinning

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  • Qing-hua TIAN1,2, Bo DONG1, Xue-yi GUO1,2, Dong LI1,2, Zou-jiang LI1, Zhi-peng XU1,2
1. School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;
2. National & Regional Joint Engineering Research Center of Nonferrous Metal Resource Recycling, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

Online published: 2023-10-25

Abstract

A possible process for the purification of crude indium by two-stage cyclone electrowinning was proposed. In accordance with a linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) results and the evaluation of the diffusion coefficient (D=6.15′10-11 cm2/s), indium electrodeposition in In2(SO4)3 solution was controlled by a diffusion-controlled irreversible process, and mass transfer can be significantly enhanced by electrolyte flow. During the 1st-stage indium cyclone electrowinning, a current efficiency (CE) of 80.15%, specific energy consumption (SEC) of 2.11 kW·h/kg and average cell voltage (ACV) of 2.04 V were achieved under the optimum conditions. Meanwhile, the purity of indium increased from 94.34% to 99.95%. During the 2nd-stage indium cyclone electrowinning, 98.95% purity of cathode indium was conducted by electrowinning under the optimum conditions, while the CE, SEC, and ACV were 75.23%, 2.23 kW·h/kg and 2.40 V, respectively. After two-stage cyclone electrowinning, the comprehensive recovery of indium is as high as 98.22%.

Cite this article

Qing-huaTIAN,BoDONG,Xue-yiGUO,DongLI,Zou-jiangLI,Zhi-pengXU, . Purification of crude indium by two-stage cyclone electrowinning[J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2023 , 33(10) : 3185 -3197 . DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(23)66326-5

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