Anode structure for copper electrowinning
View Patent ↗An electrode for use in producing copper in either a conventional electrowinning cell or the direct electrowinning cell is provided. The electrode includes a hanger bar and an electrode body coupled with the hanger bar. The electrode body includes at least one conductor rod having a core and an outer layer surrounding the core and a substrate coupled with the conductor rod.
1. An electrode for an electrowinning process comprising:
a hanger bar including a recessed hole having an interior surface; and
an electrode body comprising:
a conductor rod press fit into said recessed hole,
wherein said conductor rod comprises an attachment portion having a core and a second portion comprising said core and an outer layer,
wherein an outer surface of said attachment portion is in contact said interior surface.
2. The electrode according to claim 1 , further comprising a substrate coupled to said conductor rod.
3. The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein said core is selected from the group consisting of copper and aluminum.
4. The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein said outer layer is a valve metal.
5. The electrode according to claim 4 , wherein said valve metal is titanium.
6. The electrode according to claim 2 , wherein said substrate comprises titanium.
7. The electrode according to claim 2 , wherein said substrate comprises an electrochemically active coating.
8. An electrode for an electrowinning process comprising:
a hanger bar comprising a plurality of recessed holes;
a plurality of conductor rods comprising an outer layer and a core, each of said plurality of rods having an end portion having an exposed core;
a plurality of connections, each of said plurality of connections comprising said exposed end fastened in one of said plurality of recessed holes; and
a seal formed by said outer layer and said hanger bar, said seal essentially isolating said each of said plurality of connections.
9. The electrode according to claim 8 , further comprising at least one substrate coupled to said plurality of connection rods.
10. The electrode according to claim 9 , further comprising a conductive layer on at least a portion of a surface of said at least one substrate.
11. The electrode according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one substrate comprises titanium.
12. The electrode according to claim 8 , wherein said core comprises copper.
13. The electrode according to claim 8 , wherein said outer layer comprises titanium.
14. The electrode according to claim 8 , wherein said exposed core comprises an annular groove.
15. A method for constructing an electrode, the method comprising:
cladding an essentially cylindrical core with a metallic outer layer to create a conductor rod;
exposing an attachment portion of said core at a first end of said conductor rod;
creating a hole in a hanger bar;
press fitting said attachment portion of said conductor rod into said hole; and
coupling at least one substrate to said conductor rod.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising creating a seal between a portion of said outer layer and said hole.
17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising coating a portion of a surface of said at least one substrate with an electrochemically active coating.
18. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising creating a connection of said conductor rod to said hanger rod.
19. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising capping a distal end of said conductor rod.
20. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising creating a recess around said hole and creating a seal between a portion of said outer layer and said recess.