Abstract
The electrical conductivity, density and viscosity of acidic zinc sulfate solutions containing magnesium and manganese sulfates for zinc electrowinning were measured. The concentrations of the sulfates were selected from 0 to 3.0 mol/l for H2SO4, ZnSO4 and MgSO4, and 0 to 0.2 mol/l for MnSO4. The temperature was between 303 and 323 K. The effects of alcohol additions such as methanol, ethylene glycol and glycerin to the acidic zinc sulfate solutions were also investigated.
The electrical conductivity for the sulfate solutions of H2SO4-ZnSO4-MgSO4-MnSO4-H2O system increased with the concentration of the H2SO4 and with temperature. The density of the solutions increased with the concentration of sulfates, but slightly decreased with temperature. Their viscosities increased with the concentration of the sulfates and decreased with temperature.
The alcohol additions to the acidic zinc sulfate solutions had little effect on the density and viscosity. Nevertheless, the electrical conductivity of the solutions decreased with the concentration of the alcohol additions.
