JPS595736Y2 - Spacer for electrolytic refining - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an improvement of an electrolytic refining spacer that is set between an anode and a cathode during electrolytic refining.

For example, since blister copper obtained by a dry process contains various impurities such as Au and Ag, it is known to decompose it by electrolysis to obtain highly pure electrolytic copper.

In the case of copper, electrolytic refining is carried out using a strongly acidic copper sulfate solution as an electrolyte, blister copper as an anode, and electrolytic copper as a cathode.

In such electrolytic refining, in order to perform the refining efficiently, it is preferable to increase the number of anodes and cathodes to be suspended in the electrolytic solution tank as much as possible.

However, when a large number of anodes and cathodes are set in one tank, it may be difficult to maintain a constant distance between the anodes and cathodes, or they may interfere with each other when loading and unloading the anodes and power swords. The problem of mismatch cannot be denied.

In order to avoid such problems, a conventional method has generally been adopted in which a spacer is set between the anode and the cathode.

Figure 1 shows a conventional example showing the arrangement between an anode, a cathode, and a spacer in an electrolytic solution tank.
Its diameter is approximately lQm. The rod (of about m length) straddles the anode (blister copper) 2, and is provided with a curved part 1a in the middle to provide a space between the anode 2 and the cathode (mother plate) 3, and also to maintain the distance between the anode 2 and cathode 3. Care has been taken to maintain verticality.

However, such a conventional spacer 1 has many problems as follows.

■The inclination of the cathode 3 is corrected by the spring force of the spacer material, so if the spring force of each spacer 1 is different,
The spacing between the anode 2 and the cathode 3 and their perpendicularity cannot be maintained (this problem becomes more serious as the anode 2 becomes thinner over time).

). (2) The periphery of the cathode 3 is covered with an insulator 3a, but since the curved portion 1a faces the electrodeposited portion 3b, the spacer 1 hits the electrodeposited portion 3b, and the electrode on the cathode 3 is covered with an insulator 3a. A hole may be made in the copper deposit.

(2) Since each spacer 1 is suspended separately, the spacer 1 is easy to move when loading or unloading the anode 2, and as a result, the slime on the anode 2 is easy to fall.

As a result of (1) and (2) to (2), the thickness of the electrodeposited copper on the cathode 3 becomes non-uniform, and unevenness is likely to occur.

(2) Moreover, since each spacer 1 can be inserted or taken out separately, there is a risk of short-circuiting.

This idea was made in consideration of the above points, and by connecting a plurality of adjacent spacers (several spacers or one tank) to each other at the bottom, the mutual positional relationship of the spacers is regulated. The present invention provides a spacer for electrolytic refining in which the connected lower part of the spacer is narrowed closer to the cathode than other spacer parts so that the spacer contacts only the insulating part around the cathode.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of anodes, cathodes, and spacers similar to FIG. and a spacer 10 according to this invention is arranged between them.

One unit of this spacer 10 is a portion surrounded by a chain line in FIG. 2, and each spacer 11 itself serving as the unit is structured to straddle the anode 2.

The structure of straddling the anode 2 is the same as the conventional one, but here, each spacer 11
The spacers 10 are connected to each other to form an integral spacer 10 as a whole.

That is, the plurality of spacers 11 are connected to each other at the lower end of the cathode 3 .

Furthermore, in this case, the lower portion 11a of the connected spacers 11 is narrower toward the cathode 3 than the other spacer portions.

The reason why the lower portion 11a of the spacer 11 is narrowed in this manner is to allow the spacer 11 (10) to contact only the insulating portion of the cathode 3.

Therefore, when setting the cathode 3, the portion covered by the insulator 3a at the lower end of the cathode 3 should be
It should be positioned so as to face the lower portions 11a of the spacers 11 that are connected to each other.

As described above, in this invention, a plurality of adjacent spacers are connected to each other at their lower parts, and the lower part of the connected spacers is made narrower toward the cathode than other spacer parts, so that Various effects can be obtained such as.

(a) Since the strength of each spring of the spacer 11 is made uniform, the verticality of the cathode 3 and the anode 2 and cathode 3 are
It is possible to reliably maintain the distance between the two surfaces.

This verticality and spacing can be maintained for a long time because the spacer 10 itself does not move even if the anode 2 becomes thinner.

(b) The spacer 11 is less likely to come into contact with the electrodeposited portion 3b of the cathode 3.

(C) Since the spacer 10 becomes difficult to move, the anode 2
It drops less slime than the surface.

(d) As a result of (a) to (C), the thickness of the electrodeposited metal (for example, pure copper) on the cathode 3 becomes uniform, and there are few occurrences of irregularities.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional example of a spacer for electrolytic refining, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of this invention. 2... Anode, 3... Cathode, 1
0...Spacer, 11...Unit spacer, 11a...Lower part of spacer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A spacer for electrolytic refining that is set between an anode and a cathode during electrolytic refining, in which a plurality of adjacent spacers are connected to each other at their lower parts, and the lower part of the connected spacer is higher than other spacer parts. A spacer for electrolytic refining that is narrowed toward the cathode side.