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US5124011A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cyclic voltammetry

Assignee: Vale Canada Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-10-24
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Granted: 1992-06-23
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Expires: 2009-10-24
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Abstract

Abstract The invention provides a method of monitoring reagent levels in aqueous copper electrolytic solutions. To determine the amount of glue present in an electrowinning solution, potential is applied, decreasing in a cathodic direction (more negative) to initiate a first cycle peak. The first cycle peak is compared to a known to determine amount of glue in the solution. Additionally, voltage is cycled between upper and lower voltages to monitor glue/lignosulfonate ratios. Hysteresis and cycle stability are measured at reference voltages and compared to known hysteresis and cycle stability values to monitor glue/lignosulfonate ratio of electrolytic solutions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Brian D. Rogers
  • 👤 Carl C. Smith
  • 👤 Raymond L. Brisebois
  • 👤 John Ambrose

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 10:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/48

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
A method of applying cyclic voltammetry to measure amount of glue in an aqueous copper electrolytic solution comprising: applying a potential through a sample of said aqueous copper electrolytic solution, decreasing said potential in a cathodic direction to electrolytically deposit copper from said sample on a working electrode to initiate a first cycle peak of relatively rapid current increase, measuring location of said first cycle peak of said sample as a function of potential, and comparing said location of said first cycle peak of said sample to a location of a known glue level measured under conditions similar to said sample to determine the amount of glue in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 111 words
A method of applying cyclic voltammetry to measure amount of glue in an aqueous copper electrolytic solution comprising: applying a potential through a sample of said aqueous copper electrolytic solution, decreasing said potential in a cathodic direction to electrolytically deposit copper from said sample on a working electrode to initiate a first cycle peak of relatively rapid current increase, measuring location of said first cycle peak of said sample as a function of potential, and comparing said location of said first cycle peak of said sample to a location of a known glue level measured under conditions similar to said sample to determine the amount of glue in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 92 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional steps of: cycling said potential between a cathodic predetermined upper voltage to deposit copper on the working electrode and a more cathodic predetermined lower voltage at sufficient speed to prevent equilibrium conditions in said sample, measuring hysteresis of said current of said sample at a predetermined hysteresis reference voltage, said hysteresis reference voltage having a voltage between said upper and lower voltages, and comparing said measured hysteresis of said sample to a hysteresis target to determine the effectiveness of glue in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 145 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional steps of: cycling said potential between a cathodic predetermined upper voltage to deposit copper on a working electrode and a more cathodic predetermined lower voltage at sufficient speed to prevent equilibrium conditions in said sample, and having at least a portion of said copper deposited on said working electrode remaining deposited with each cycle, reapplying said cycling of said potential between said upper and lower voltages for a fixed number of additional cycles, measuring cycle stability of said sample between at least two different cycles at a predetermined cycle stability reference voltage, said cycle stability reference having a voltage equal to or between said upper and lower voltages, comparing said measured cycle stability of said sample to a cycle stability target measured under conditions similar to said sample to determine the glue level in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 70 words
The method of claim 3 including the additional steps of: measuring hysteresis of said current of said sample at a predetermined hysteresis reference voltage, said hysteresis reference voltage having a voltage between said upper and lower voltages; and comparing said measured hysteresis of said sample to a hysteresis target for a known glue level measured under conditions similar to said sample to determine the glue level in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of: recording current and voltage through said sample as said potential decreases in said cathodic direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional steps of: aging said sample for at least one hour; and cooling said sample to about room temperature before said potential is applied to said sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said potential is decreased in said cathodic direction at a rate between about 5 and about 10 millivolts per second.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of applying cyclic voltammetry to monitor glue and lignosulfonate in combination in an aqueous copper electrolytic solution comprising: applying a potential through a sample of said aqueous copper electrolytic solution, cycling said potential between a cathodic predetermined upper voltage to deposit copper on the working electrode and a more cathodic predetermined lower voltage at sufficient speed to prevent equilibrium conditions in said sample, measuring hysteresis of current of said sample at a predetermined hysteresis reference voltage, said hysteresis reference voltage having a voltage between said upper and lower voltages, and comparing said measured hysteresis of said sample to a hysteresis target to determine the effectiveness of glue and lignosulfonate in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of applying cyclic voltammetry to monitor glue and lignosulfonate in combination in an aqueous copper electrolytic solution comprising: applying a potential through a sample of said aqueous copper electrolytic solution, cycling said potential between a cathodic predetermined upper voltage to deposit copper on the working electrode and a more cathodic predetermined lower voltage at sufficient speed to prevent equilibrium conditions in said sample, measuring hysteresis of current of said sample at a predetermined hysteresis reference voltage, said hysteresis reference voltage having a voltage between said upper and lower voltages, and comparing said measured hysteresis of said sample to a hysteresis target to determine the effectiveness of glue and lignosulfonate in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 8 including the additional step of: recording current and voltage through said sample as the cyclic potential cycles between said upper and lower voltages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 8 including the additional steps of: aging said sample for at least one hour; and cooling said sample to about room temperature before said potential is applied to said sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said upper and lower voltages cause cathodic deposition of copper on said working electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said lower voltage is about -600 mV and said upper voltage is about -400 mV.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said cycling between said upper and lower voltages is performed at a rate between about 5 and about 10 millivolts per second.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 169 words
A method of applying cyclic voltammetry to monitor glue and lignosulfonate in combination in an aqueous copper electrolytic solution comprising: applying a potential through a sample of said aqueous copper electrolytic solution, cycling said potential between a cathodic predetermined upper voltage to deposit copper on a working electrode and a more cathodic predetermined lower voltage at sufficient speed to prevent equilibrium conditions in said sample, and having at least a portion of said copper deposited on said working electrode remaining deposited with each cycle, repeating said cycling of said potential between said upper and lower voltages for a fixed number of additional cycles, measuring cycle stability of said sample between at least two different cycles at a predetermined cycle stability reference voltage, said cycle stability reference voltage being equal to or between said upper and lower voltages, comparing said measured cycle stability of said sample to a cycle stability target measured under conditions similar to said sample to determine the effectiveness of glue and lignosulfonate in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 169 words
A method of applying cyclic voltammetry to monitor glue and lignosulfonate in combination in an aqueous copper electrolytic solution comprising: applying a potential through a sample of said aqueous copper electrolytic solution, cycling said potential between a cathodic predetermined upper voltage to deposit copper on a working electrode and a more cathodic predetermined lower voltage at sufficient speed to prevent equilibrium conditions in said sample, and having at least a portion of said copper deposited on said working electrode remaining deposited with each cycle, repeating said cycling of said potential between said upper and lower voltages for a fixed number of additional cycles, measuring cycle stability of said sample between at least two different cycles at a predetermined cycle stability reference voltage, said cycle stability reference voltage being equal to or between said upper and lower voltages, comparing said measured cycle stability of said sample to a cycle stability target measured under conditions similar to said sample to determine the effectiveness of glue and lignosulfonate in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 69 words
The method of claim 14 including the additional steps of: measuring hysteresis of a current of said sample at a predetermined hysteresis reference voltage, said hysteresis reference voltage being between said upper and lower voltages; and comparing said measured hysteresis of said current of said sample to a hysteresis target measured under conditions similar to said sample to determine the effectiveness of glue and lignosulfonate in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 14 including the additional step of: recording current and voltage through said sample as said potential cycles between said upper and lower voltages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 14 including the additional steps of: aging said sample for at least one hour; and cooling said sample to about room temperature before said potential is applied to said sample.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said upper and lower voltages cause cathodic deposition of copper on said working electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said lower voltage is -600 mV and said upper voltage is -400 mV.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said cycling between said upper and lower voltages is performed at a rate between about 5 and 10 millivolts per second.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3925168A Cited
US4146437A Cited
US4146437B1 Cited
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US4132605B1 Cited
US4217189A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-06-23 1995-12-23 1996-06-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-06-23 1999-12-23 2000-06-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-06-23 2003-12-23 2004-06-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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