Importance

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Abstract

An method and apparatus for recovering a conductive metal from solution. The apparatus includes a first container for holding the solution, and a second container placed in liquid communication with the first container, a first electrode placed within the second container, and a second electrode composed of a thin film applied to the inside surface of the second container. The film may include as its main constituent the same metal as that to be recovered from solution. During the reaction, solution is circulated from the first container into the second container and back. A power supply is connected, positive to the first electrode and negative to the second electrode, causing the metal from the solution to be deposited on the second electrode, lining the inside surface of the second container with the metal to be recovered. Because the second container is constructed of material which will not contaminate the metal during smelting, on completion of the metal recovery operation, the entire second container is placed in a smelting furnace, eliminating the messy and wasteful step of removing the recovered metal from the cathode prior to smelting. In one embodiment the second container is mounted above the first container, and the first electrode may be tubular to be used as part of the return of the solution to the first container. In another embodiment the pump employed in the circulation step is the existing pump of a film processing machine.

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First Claim