Effectiveness factors in an electrochemical reactor with rotating cylinder electrode for the acid-cupric/copper cathode interface process

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 56; no. 8; pp. 2695 - 2702
• Main Authors: Luis Nava-M. de Oca, José, Sosa, E., Ponce de León, Carlos, Oropeza, M.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Effectiveness factor; Electrochemistry; Electrolysis; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Mass transfer; Metallic coatings; Metals. Metallurgy; Miscellaneous; Production techniques; Reactors; Rotating cylinder electrode; Study of interfaces; Surface treatment; Rotating cylinder electrode; Electrolysis; Effectiveness factor; Mass transfer; Divalent metal Ions; Experimental study; Electrochemical reactor; Modeling; Acidic solution; Sulfuric acid; Chemical reduction; Transition metal Ions; Cylindrical electrode; Rotating electrode; Electrodeposition; Kinetics; Rate constant; Electrochemical reaction; Charge transfer; Copper II Ions
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-2509(00)00514-5

An expression for the global electrochemical deposition rate of copper in a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) was developed through the effectiveness factor. The effectiveness factor of an electrochemical interface process, calculated using the Damköhler number, leads to identify the competition between intrinsic reaction (charge transfer) and bulk mass transport. The charge transfer constant was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the specific mass transfer coefficients were determined by electrolysis at controlled potential. Catalytic effectiveness factors were found between 0.08 and 0.22 establishing that the mass transport of Cu (II) ion controls the global electrochemical process at an imposed electrolysis potential of −0.9 V vs. SSE in turbulent flow.