Cadmium oxides, separator additives

Refining Processes. AH the reduction processes yield an impure metal containing some of the minor elements present in the concentrate, eg, cadmium in 2inc, or some elements introduced during the smelting process, eg, carbon in pig iron. These impurities must be removed from the cmde metal in order to meet specifications for use. Refining operations may be classified according to the kind of phases involved in the process, ie, separation of a vapor from a Hquid or soHd, separation of a soHd from a Hquid, or transfer between two Hquid phases. In addition, they may be characterized by whether or not they involve oxidation—reduction reactions. 

Subcategory A encompasses the manufacture of all batteries in which cadmium is the reactive anode material. Cadmium anode batteries currently manufactured are based on nickel-cadmium, silver-cadmium, and mercury-cadmium couples (Table 32.1). The manufacture of cadmium anode batteries uses various raw materials, which comprises cadmium or cadmium salts (mainly nitrates and oxides) to produce cell cathodes nickel powder and either nickel or nickel-plated steel screen to make the electrode support structures nylon and polypropylene, for use in manufacturing the cell separators and either sodium or potassium hydroxide, for use as process chemicals and as the cell electrolyte. Cobalt salts may be added to some electrodes. Batteries of this subcategory are predominantly rechargeable and find application in calculators, cell phones, laptops, and other portable electronic devices, in addition to a variety of industrial applications.1-4 A typical example is the nickel-cadmium battery described below. 

Cadmium is obtained as a byproduct in zinc recovery processes. The metal volatdizes during roasting of zinc concentrates and collected as dust or fume in bag houses or electrostatic precipitators. The dusts are mixed with coal (or coke) and zinc chloride and calcined. The cadmium chloride formed volatihzes upon calcination and thus separates out from zinc. The chloride then is treated with sulfuric acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent. This converts lead, present as impurity in cadmium ore, to lead sulfate which precipitates out. Cadmium is finally separated from copper by the addition of zinc dust and... 

Among the oxides and hydroxides which exhibit the power of acting both as acid and basic compounds are cupric hydroxide, Cu(OH)2, which dissolves in a concentrated solution of potassium hydroxide with a dark blue colour zinc and cadmium hydroxides, which dissolve in excess of alkali sodium zincate has been separated by addition of alcohol, and is precipitated in white needles of the formula Na2ZnO .8H20 and aluminium hydroxide, which dissolves in alkali, forming an aluminate, MA102 ... 

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