PRECIPITATION OF ANTIMONY AND BISMUTH FROM COPPER REFINERY ELECTROLYTE USING PBO2

摘要

The invention is suitable for use in metal and nonmetal mining and, in general, in any area of operation containing Sb and Bi in solution in an electrolyte based mainly on sulfuric acid. The system consists in contacting: solid lead dioxide (PbO₂), which can be surface activated with an oxidising agent, e.g. hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), in order to enhance the reaction thereof, with an acid electrolyte containing Sb and Bi in solution, in order to reduce the soluble Sb and Bi content present in the liquid phase, forming insoluble compounds based on Pb-Sb and Pb-Bi. The invention can be used to reduce the presence of Sb and Bi in solution by at least 70%.