The Thompson Refinery

CIM Bulletin, 1964

Molten nickel sulphide matte is received from the smelter converters and is cast directly into anodes. This results in a great improvement over conventional metal anode processing. The anodes are corroded electrolytically in the nickel-plating cells, using pure nickel starting is sheets as cathodes. The difference in current efficiency between cathode and anode produces excess acid in theanolyte. Therefore, 11 per cent of the cells are operated to produce electrolytic nickel hydroxide, which is used to neutralizethe excess acid formed at the plating cell anodes and replace it with nickel. Anolyte from the plating cells is treated for the removal of impurities such as iron, arsenic, cobalt and copper, and is returned to the cells as a purified solution from which the nickel is plated. Other plant products, in addition to electrolytic nickel cathodes, are cobalt oxide, and sulphur and 11recious metals concentrate derived from the treatment of the anode slime

Keywords: anodes, electrolyte, Nickel Matte, soda ash, sulphur, Cathodes, Cobalt, copper, Electrolytes, Filters, nickel, Plating, Removal, sulphur