The development and applications of the anode-support system in electrochemical processes

The purpose of this article is to review the development and applications of a special type of anode, the 'anode-support' or 'basket-anode' system. This system permits the replacement in an electrochemical process of a cast anode by a metallic anode-support filled with a particulate metal to be dissolved. As raw material small pieces of primary metals, alloys or metal scrap can be used. Generally, the anode-support has the form of a basket with two or more flat parallel perforated sides. Nevertheless, an annular system made of metallic mesh or a rotary anode-support can be utilized. Titanium, stainless steel and other metals have been used to make these supports. The anode-support system has been employed on laboratory, pilot and industrial scale, for electrorefining metals and for the electrochemical generation of some insoluble products. As background, the use of basket-anodes in electroplating and electroforming processes is also reviewed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.