ELECTROWINNING OF COBALT FROM A SULFATE BATH CONTAINING H3BO3 AND NAF

Electrowinning of cobalt from a sulfate bath containing Na//2SO//4, NaF and H//3BO//3 individually and H//3BO//3 in combination with NaF and Na//2SO//4 was studied. From the preliminary study it was observed that a sulfate bath containing both NaF and H//3BO//3 gave the best results. The effects of various parameters, namely NaF, H//3BO//3 and cobalt concentrations, current density, bath temperature, bath pH, etc. on cathode current efficiency and on the nature of the deposit were studied. The results indicate that both H//3BO//3 and NaF in the sulfate bath contribute towards higher current efficiency and better deposit in the electrowinning of cobalt.