Electrochemical process for preparation of zinc metal

Abstract

Disclosed is a low corrosion electrochemical process for preparing zinc metal which comprises electrochemically reducing an aqueous basic solution or slurry of zinc oxide or any other zinc compound that reacts with an aqueous base to produce zinc oxide, wherein the electrochemical process is carried out in an undivided electrochemical cell, and wherein air or nitrogen is bubbled in through the solution or slurry of zinc oxide or said other zinc compound during said electrochemical process.

1 . A low corrosion electrochemical process for preparing zinc metal which comprises electrochemically reducing an aqueous basic solution or slurry of zinc oxide or any other zinc compound that reacts with an aqueous base to produce zinc oxide, wherein the electrochemical process is carried out in an undivided electrochemical cell, and wherein air or nitrogen is bubbled in through the solution or slurry of zinc oxide or said other zinc compound during said electrochemical process.  
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical process of  claim 1  that is a continuous process.  
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical process of  claim 1  that utilizes an electrochemical cell having a magnesium or copper cathode.  
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical process of  claim 1  that utilizes an electrochemical cell having a stainless steel or nickel anode.  
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical process of  claim 1  that utilizes an electrochemical cell having a stainless steel anode and a copper cathode.  
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical process of  claim 1  that utilizes an electrochemical cell having a nickel anode and a copper cathode.  
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical process of  claim 1  that is conducted at a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 105° C.  
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical process of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature ranges from about 40° to about 80° C.  
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical process of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature ranges from about 60° to about 75° C.  
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical process of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous base comprises ions of at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal and hydroxyl (OH − ) ions.  
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical process of  claim 10 , wherein the alkali and alkaline earth metal ions are selected from sodium, potassium, and mixtures thereof and are provided in the form of a compound selected from hydroxides, and oxides.  
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical process of  claim 11 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.