The purification of cobalt advance electrolyte using ion exchange

Laboratory scale development work is reported for the removal of trace amounts of copper and zinc from a 40 g/l cobalt advance electrolyte solution at pH 5–6. A chelating ion exchange resin is used for copper removal but a novel Levextrel resin is used for zinc removal. Data are presented on loading and regeneration cycles and also on the loss of organic material from the Levextrel. A scanning electron microscope linked to an X-ray probe analyser has been used in an attempt to explain the mode of cobalt/zinc loading on the Levextrel resin.The information obtained from this development work has been used in the design of the proposed plant.