Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Procedure to use granular activated carbon in tin electroplating

Hello friends,
I am electro-refining tin up to very high purity level(5N) using tin(3N) as anode. To achieve this I am using activated carbon(granular form) in the electroplating bath. But the carbon also gets deposited on cathode(Ti).
Please advise me what is the correct procedure to use it. Can I put it just before starting electroplating or mix it while preparing electrolyte(stannous sulfate/ sulfuric acid)
Please suggest me correct procedure.
Thanks.

Santosh Kumar
student - Korea
November 21, 2010

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No need for activated carbon I would use a hull cell and cut off the head and the tail, and check the amperage at which I have the purest tin.
good luck

Khair Shishani
aircraft maintenance - Al Ain, UAE
January 2, 2011

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Dear Khair Shishani,
Thanks for your response. Can you be please little bit specific. I have not much experience in running Hull cell.
Thanks

Santosh
- Korea
January 5, 2011

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Dear Santosh,
If the anode is under an angle to the cathode the current disrtribution density will vary ,for the hull cell it is calculated .It is some how like distillation but instead of controlling the temp you go by the current density .The current density range which gave you the purest metal can be used for plating out the metal .
Good luck

Khair Shishani
aircraft maintenance - Al Ain, UAE
January 10, 2011

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Dear Cair,

Thanks for your response. Can you please tell the optimum concentration of the bath(i.e stannous sulfate, sulfuric acid,additives,temp.) I am using stannous sulfate-70 gm/l, sulfuric acid-60 ml/l, thiourea [on eBay or Amazon]-4 g/l, POELE-2 g/l).current 2 A/dm2 ,tin (3N) as anode. But I am not getting pure deposits. In fact impurity content of electrodeposited tin at cathode increases instead of being decreased. I am taking Ti as cathode.
Please suggest.

Santosh Kumar
- Korea
January 19, 2011