Electrolytic Recovery of Nickel from Dilute Solutions

Abstract

Electrolytic recovery of metals from dilute solutions using vertical electrodes is limited due to low current density and mass transfer rate. Therefore, a rotating tubular bed reactor with extended cathode surface areas was developed to improve mass transfer. In this study, nickel solutions from industrial Watts baths were used for the electrolytic recovery of nickel. The results showed that this process reduces the nickel concentrations to low levels with an optimum deposition rate. Electrolytic treatment followed by an ion-exchange process can further reduce the nickel content, even below the ppm level.