Zinc Recovery through Electrolytic Refinement Using Insoluble Ir + Sn + Ta + PdOx/Ti Cathode to Reduce Electrical Energy Use

In this study, an alumina (Al) anode, a lead cathode, and insoluble catalytic cathodes (IrOx, PdOx, TaOx, and SnOx) were used as electrodes to enhance zinc recovery. The traditionally used iron electrode and insoluble catalytic electrodes were also used to compare the recovery yield when different types of electrodes were subjected to the same amount of energy. The lead electrode showed over 5000 Ω higher electrode resistance than did the insoluble catalytic electrode, leading to overpotential requiring higher electrical energy. As electrical energy used by the lead and the insoluble catalytic electrodes were 2498.97 and 2262.37 kwh/ton-Zn, respectively, electrical energy can be reduced by 10% when using an insoluble catalytic electrode compared to that when using a lead electrode. Using recovery time (1–4 h) and current density (100–500 A/m(2)) as variables, the activation, concentration polarization, and electrode resistance were measured for each condition to find the optimum condition for zinc recovery. A recovery yield of about 77% was obtained for up to 3 h of zinc recovery time at a current density of 200 A/m(2), which is lower than that (about 80%) obtained at 300 A/m(2). After 3 h of recovery time, electrode resistance (Zn concentration reduction, hydrogen generation on electrode surface) and overpotential increase with time decreased at a current density of 200 A/m(2), leading to a significant increase in zinc recovery yield (95%).