Study on the replacement of lead-based anodes by dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs) during zinc electrowinning process

加拿大生产的精炼锌占全球供应量的6%，而仅CEZINC一家的Valleyfield工厂就生产了26.5万吨。这一过程是能源密集型的，每年对电力的需求达到4500万美元。提高能源效率是使公司更具盈利和竞争力的关键因素。降低CEZINC能耗的一个有希望的方法是进行实质性的技术变革，用涂覆钛的阳极取代铅阳极。虽然这样的技术改变代表着相当大的节能，但它的实施并不是微不足道的，在此之前必须解决一些问题。这一探索性项目旨在确定和验证这些问题。更具体地说，重点将放在新技术对锌电解槽运行条件的影响上，以便更好地控制电解液中的锰，因为电解液中的锰积聚是使用钛阳极的负面后果。

Canada produces 6% of the world's supply of refined zinc while CEZinc alone produces 265 000 tons at itsValleyfield plant. This process is energy intensive and its need for electricity hits 45 M$ per year. Increasingthe energy efficiency is the key factor to make the company more profitable and competitive. A promising wayto reduce power consumption at CEZinc is to perform a substantial technology change by replacing Pb-Aganodes with coated Ti anodes. Although such a technology change represents a considerable energy saving, itsimplementation is not trivial and a number of issues must be addressed before. This exploratory project aims atidentifying and validating these issues. More specifically, the focus will be made on the effect of newtechnology on the operation conditions of the zinc electrolysis cells, allowing better control of Mn in theelectrolyte since the Mn buildup in the electrolyte is the negative consequence of using Ti anodes.