Metal sulfate manufacturing system via electrochemical dissolution
A metal sulfate manufacturing system comprising an electrochemical dissolution system having, an anode electrode that holds metal raw material, a cathode electrode, an electrolyte bath having an inlet to receive an initial acid or metal-acid complex solution and an outlet to discharge the treated metal sulfate solution, stirring equipment that mixes the electrolyte bath, a temperature control system, and a rectifier that supplies current at constant voltage between the anode and cathode electrode.
1. An electrochemical dissolution system for dissolving raw metal materials, comprising:
an electrolyte bath container comprising a container wall and configured to hold an electrolyte solution;
a temperature control system;
a single liquid permeable anode electrode comprising an electrically conductive anode electrode body and disposed within the bath container;
a single cathode electrode continuously surrounding the single liquid permeable anode electrode equidistantly on all sides at distance of 1 mm to 2 cm; and
an inlet and an outlet each positioned between the container wall and the single cathode electrode;
a power supply electrically connected to the single liquid permeable anode electrode and the single cathode electrode.
2. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , further comprising an agitator configured to agitate electrolyte within the bath container.
3. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 2 , wherein the agitator comprises at least one of a mechanical agitator, a magnetic stirrer, a liquid circulator, and an air agitator.
4. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the single liquid permeable anode electrode comprises a basket shape, a sandwich shape, or a tray shape.
5. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive anode electrode body of the single liquid permeable anode electrode comprises at least one of platinum, platinum coated-titanium, and iridium coated-titanium.
6. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , further comprising a metal raw material submerged within the electrolyte solution and held by the single liquid permeable anode electrode.
7. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 6 , wherein the metal raw material comprises at least one of a nickel cathode, a nickel briquette, a cobalt cathode, and a cobalt briquette.
8. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive anode electrode body comprising at least one of a mesh type material and a punched type material.
9. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the single cathode electrode comprises at least one of platinum, platinum-coated nickel, and nickel.
10. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the single cathode electrode comprises a cathode electrode body comprising at least one of a corrugated material, a sponged material, and an embossed material.
11. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte bath container comprises an electrolyte.
12. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 11 , wherein the electrolyte comprises an acid.
13. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 12 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.
14. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein an acid concentration of the electrolyte solution is between 1M and 3M.
15. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical dissolution system is configured to operate at atmospheric pressure.
16. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the single cathode electrode is equidistant from the single liquid permeable anode electrode at distance of 9 mm to 2 cm.
17. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a continuous system.
18. The electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to continuously flow a fresh electrolyte solution into the system and continuously discharge a processed electrolyte solution from the system.
19. A method of using the electrochemical dissolution system of claim 1 , comprising:
applying a voltage between the single liquid permeable and anode electrode and the single cathode electrode;
providing a fresh electrolyte solution to the electrolyte bath container through the inlet; and
withdrawing a processed solution from the electrolyte bath container through the outlet.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the fresh electrolyte solution has a metal concentration less than the processed solution.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising controlling the temperature of the electrolyte bath container to between 35° C. and 60° C. using the temperature control system.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the voltage is 2.0 V to 3.5 V.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the voltage is 0.1 V to 1 V.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the providing the fresh electrolyte solution comprises continuously providing the fresh electrolyte solution through the inlet.
25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the withdrawing the processed solution comprises continuously withdrawing the processed solution through the outlet.