The influence of germanium on zinc electrolysis

Abstract

Summary It has been noticed that during electrolysis of zinc from sulphate solutions in the presence of Germanium, the utilisation of current varies with the change of concentration of Ge in the electrolyte, and from the neutral electrolyte it decreases with the increase of current which passed through the electrolyte. Therefore dependencies of current utilisation on concentration of acid and concentration of Ge in the electrolyte have been investigated. It has been found the current utilisation decreases when the acidity increases, the decrease being also proportional to the increase of concentration of Ge. The activity of Ge is the more intensive with the higher the acidity. The cause of the fact that concentration of Ge in the electrolyte remains constant after a certain duration of electrolysis has been explained, as well as that the absolute value of this concentration depends only on the initial concentration of Ge. It has been stated that deposition of Ge on the cathode ceases (either in the form of metal or hydride) when the electrolyte has reached an acidity value of about 120 g/l H2SO4.

Citation

Barišin, D. and Jelačič, C. (1982), "The influence of germanium on zinc electrolysis", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 29 No. 7, pp. 4-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb007196