A modified Hull cell and its application to the electrodeposition of zinc

An analytical electrochemical cell based on the Hull cell is described. The cell was tailored specifically for the analysis of electrowinning or electroplating. Current density distributions were generated by asymmetric insertion of an insulating baffle between parallel electrodes. The position and length of the baffle were easily altered, giving 12 possible distributions for a single total current. The cathode consisted of 10 electrically isolated 1 cm(2), aluminium segments. By logging the potential drop across 1 Omega resistors in each of the 10 isolated parallel branches, quantitative determination of current densities across the cathode was made possible. The small segments facilitated microscopic analysis of deposit morphologies. A technique for the determination of current efficiencies on each segment is described and demonstrated. The technique obviates the necessity to determine deposited masses directly. Development of the technique for industrial application is detailed. The system is demonstrated by evaluating known effects of variables in zinc electrowinning. The variables examined were temperature, deposition time, acid concentration and antimony contamination.