Electrowinning for Precious Metal Recovery

EMEW Electrowinning - Precious Metal Recovery / Metal Recovery

Based around the globally patented EMEW® Electrowinning cell, the technology has been demonstrated to achieve significantly enhanced performance over a wide range of flows and effluent conditions, and is now implemented in many mining and industrial settings around the world.

Electrowinning for Precious Metal Recovery

Conventional electrowinning involves placing an anode and cathode into a bath of slowly circulating or stagnant electrolyte. The metal ions eventually make their way to the cathode to be plated.

With EMEW® Electrowinning, the electrolyte is circulated rapidly past the anode and cathode at a higher flow rate, allowing for improvements in efficiency and the precious metal recovery / metal recovery.

EMEW Electrowinning Cell ®

1. Each EMEW® electrowinning cell comprises of a 6 or 8 inch pipe made of stainless steel or PVC. The cathode area in each cell is 0.5m² for the 6 inch cell, or 1m² for the 8 inch cell.

The ANODE runs through the centre of the cell. The Inside surface of the pipe is the CATHODE.

2. There are two types of EMEW® electrowinning cell. One produces metal plate, the other produces metal powder.

In the powder cell the Anode has a larger diameter and a smaller electrode gap.

EMEW Electrowinning Plate Cell ®

3. For plating cells a Starter Sheet, (usually made of stainless steel), is slid inside the body of the EMEW® electrowinning cell.

The metal being recovered is plated onto this removable/reusable starter sheet when current is passed between the ANODE and the CATHODE.

EMEW Electrowinning Cell ®

4. The electrolyte is pumped through the cell from the bottom.

Power is applied to the cell between the ANODE & CATHODE.

Metal then begins to plate, or forms as powder, on the CATHODE.