An assembly for use in refining metals includes two adjacent capping board segments defining a joint interface there-between, a contact bar that may be a contact bar segment and is sized and configured to lay on the two capping boards and to span across the joint interface, and two engagement mechanisms provided on respective sides of the joint interface, to hold the capping board segments together. Each engagement mechanism may include a projecting anchor element and a retaining cavity sized and configured to receive a corresponding projecting anchor element. The contact bar may include the projecting anchor elements and the capping board segments may include the retaining cavities. Methods and uses of such contact bars and capping board segments are also provided for hydrometallurgical refining operations.

A process to extract metal ions and potentially other hazardous species present in solution to levels low enough to make it suitable for use and/or to quantify the levels of these contaminants in the solution. The process involves the use of functionalized magnetic particles to bind with metal ions. The process occurs in a three-chambered cell and utilizes a magnet to agglomerate the magnetic particles bound with metal ions to an electrode, and by altering the pH of the solution within the cell using gases produced by a solid state electrolyzer or from the air, encourages the plating of the metal ions on the electrode and the pushing out of the metal-free solution out of the cell.

A process to extract metal ions and potentially other hazardous species present in solution to levels low enough to make it suitable for use and/or to quantify the levels of these contaminants in the solution. The process involves the use of functionalized magnetic particles to bind with metal ions. The process occurs in a three-chambered cell and utilizes a magnet to agglomerate the magnetic particles bound with metal ions to an electrode, and by altering the pH of the solution within the cell using gases produced by a solid state electrolyzer or from the air, encourages the plating of the metal ions on the electrode and the pushing out of the metal-free solution out of the cell.

There is provided a product that generally relates to hydrometallurgical equipment and more particularly to a reinforced electrolytic vessel for refining non-ferrous metals. The vessel includes a core shaped to hold an electrolytic liquid, the core comprising a rectangular core base and four walls extending upwardly from peripheral edges of the core base; and at least two flat elongated pultruded fiberglass rebars embedded in each wall of the core.

There is provided a product that generally relates to hydrometallurgical equipment and more particularly to a reinforced electrolytic vessel for refining non-ferrous metals. The vessel includes a core shaped to hold an electrolytic liquid, the core comprising a rectangular core base and four walls extending upwardly from peripheral edges of the core base; and at least two flat elongated pultruded fiberglass rebars embedded in each wall of the core.

The invention concerns a bubble collector guide for use in an electrolysis process, which comprises a plurality of guide members arranged at a distance from each other, the guide members comprising a lower side. The guide members can be arranged horizontally on the vertical surface of an electrode so that the lower side of the guide member forms a downwards facing surface that is substantially orthogonal to the vertical surface of the electrode, so as to collect bubbles of gas generated at the electrode.

A process for recovering non-ferrous metals from a solid matrix may include: leaching the solid matrix with an aqueous-based solution, in a presence of oxygen, to obtain an extraction solution including leached metals and solid leaching residue; separating the solid leaching residue from the extraction solution; and subjecting the extraction solution to at least one cementation to recover the leached metals in elemental state. The leaching solution may include chloride ions. The leaching solution may further include ammonium ions. A pH of the leaching solution may be greater than or equal to 6.5 and less than or equal to 8.5. A leaching temperature may be greater than or equal to 100 C. and less than or equal to 160 C. A leaching pressure may be greater than or equal to 150 kPa and less than or equal to 800 kPa.

A process for recovering non-ferrous metals from a solid matrix may include: leaching the solid matrix with an aqueous-based solution, in a presence of oxygen, to obtain an extraction solution including leached metals and solid leaching residue; separating the solid leaching residue from the extraction solution; and subjecting the extraction solution to at least one cementation to recover the leached metals in elemental state. The leaching solution may include chloride ions. The leaching solution may further include ammonium ions. A pH of the leaching solution may be greater than or equal to 6.5 and less than or equal to 8.5. A leaching temperature may be greater than or equal to 100 C. and less than or equal to 160 C. A leaching pressure may be greater than or equal to 150 kPa and less than or equal to 800 kPa.

The invention relates to an electrode assembly for an electrochemical process comprising a current supply element comprising at least one recessed hole; at least one current distribution bar comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being releasably arranged at the at least one recessed hole; and an electrode substrate arranged at the at least one current distribution bar. The current distribution bar comprises a core and an outer layer, the core being completely covered by the outer layer. The invention also relates to a method of restoring the electrode substrate of the electrode assembly without removing the electrode substrate from the at least one current distribution bar.

The invention relates to an electrode assembly for an electrochemical process comprising a current supply element comprising at least one recessed hole; at least one current distribution bar comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being releasably arranged at the at least one recessed hole; and an electrode substrate arranged at the at least one current distribution bar. The current distribution bar comprises a core and an outer layer, the core being completely covered by the outer layer. The invention also relates to a method of restoring the electrode substrate of the electrode assembly without removing the electrode substrate from the at least one current distribution bar.