Improvements relating to the Separation of Cobalt from Nickel and other Metals.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Separation of Cobalt from Nickel and
other Metals.
We, ALFRED COEHN, Doctor of Philosophy, of 45, Obere Karspüle, and
ERNST SALOMON, Doctor of Philosophy, of 23, Walzenmühlenweg, both in
Göttingen, in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the separation of cobalt from nickel and other metals
by an electrolytic process wherein the cobalt is deposited on the anode in the
form of an oxygen compound.
The possibility of separating cobalt from nickel electrolytically arises from
the difference in the action of the salts of the two metals at the anode during
electrolysis. The cobalt salts always react to form superoxide at this electrode,
while the nickel salts do not, so that cobalt alone is deposited on the anode
in the form of some oxygen compound. Kathodic deposit of both metals is
prevented by adding to the solution, the salt of some metal more readily deposited,
than either cobalt or nickel, e.g. copper; for this purpose the nitrate and sul-
phate solutions are well adapted. The electromotive force and the current density
must be chosen according to the concentration of the solution; at higher tem-
peratures the separation is easier.
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements relating to the Separation of Cobalt from Nickel and
other Metals.
We, ALFRED COEHN, Doctor of Philosophy, of 45, Obere Karspüle, and
ERNST SALOMON, Doctor of Philosophy, of 2311, Walzenmühlenweg, both in
Göttingen, in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to the separation of cobalt from nickel and other metals
by an electrolytic process wherein the cobalt is deposited on the anode in the
aureen compound

page_text: The possibility of separating cobalt from nickel electrolytically arises from
the difference in the action of the salts of the two metals at the anode during
electrolysis, which difference we have discovered. The cobalt salts always react
to form superoxide at this electrode, while the nickel salts do not, so that cobalt
alone is deposited on the anode in the form of some oxygen compound.
According to our said invention, therefore, we subject the salts of the two
metals to electrolysis, and, to prevent kathodic deposit of both metals, we add
to the solution the salt of some metal more readily deposited than either cobalt
or nickel, e.g. copper for this purpose the nitrate and sulphate solutions are
well adapted. The electromotive force and the current density must be chosen
according to the concentration of the solution; at higher temperatures the
separation is easier.
Only by way of an example and without restricting ourselves to this mode of
performance, it may be stated that the described separation of the cobalt can
be performed at a temperature, of about 60° C. thereby employing a tension
of the electric current of about 15-2 volt and a current density of about
01 ampere per square decimeter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
The separation of cobalt from nickel and other metals by an electrolytic process
wherein the cobalt is deposited on the anode in the form of an oxygen compound.
Dated the 18th day of January 1899
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.