ELECTRODEPOSITION OF ZINC FROM ACIDIFIED ZINC-SULFATE SOLUTION

In the electrodeposition of zinc from acidified zinc sulphate solutions the loss in current efficiency (CE) due to evolution of hydrogen at the cathode has often been attributed to the presence of metal impurities, and it has been thought that in a pure solution the CE would be 100%. In this paper it is argued that, whatever the degree of purity achieved, hydrogen must always be produced simultaneously with zinc. At the start of electrolysis the CE is determined solely by the zinc/acid ratio, but when impurities are present the CE falls progressively as electrodeposition proceeds. Further, colloid silica which is always present in plant solutions is not responsible for the CE falling below 100%, nor are the lead anodes that are used in practice. Some effects of manganese, both at the anode and the cathode, are reported. The deleterious influences of cobalt and manganese together are also discussed. © 1979 Chapman and Hall Ltd.