Patent ID: 8282806

Claim:
A method for galvanic deposition of a zinc-bearing layer onto a substrate surface comprising: contacting the substrate surface in a galvanic bath with an acidic deposition-electrolyte comprising zinc ions; applying a current between the substrate and at least one anode suitable to deposit the zinc-bearing layer onto the substrate surface, wherein the galvanic bath is divided into at least a first cell comprising the acidic deposition-electrolyte and a second cell comprising a neutral or acidic zinc-bearing anolyte and the at least one anode comprising a zinc anode to be depleted, and wherein the first cell and second cell are separated by a membrane permeable to cations; removing at least a portion of the neutral or acidic zinc-bearing anolyte from the second cell; and directing at least a portion of the neutral or acidic zinc-bearing anolyte removed from the second cell through an arrangement wherein at least a portion of any foreign metal ions are replaced by zinc ions and/or protons.