Electrodeposition of cobalt in double-membrane three-compartment electrolytic reactor

The process parameters were optimized for the electrodeposition of cobalt from cobalt chloride solution in the membrane electrolytic reactor. Effects of parameters such as catholyte composition, current density and temperature on the current efficiency, specific power consumption and quality of deposition were studied. The catholyte was a mixed solution of cobalt chloride, the initial middle electrolyte consisted of diluted hydrochloric acid, and the anolyte was sulfuric acid. An anion exchange membrane separated the catholyte from the middle electrolyte, and a cation exchange membrane separated the anolyte from the middle electrolyte. The results showed that a maximum current efficiency of 97.5% was attained under the optimum experimental condition of an catholyte composition of 80 g/L Co2+, 20 g/L H3BO3, 3 g/L NaF and pH of 4, at a cathode current density of 250 A/m2 and a temperature of 50 °C. HCl could be produced in the middle compartment electrochemically up to 0.45 mol/L.