Optimization of the mode of porous electrode filling with a metal for silver deposition from thiosulfate solutions as an example

For silver recovery from the fixing and bleaching solution as an example, the dynamics of filling the porous cathode with the metal is investigated experimentally for processing one large portion of solution or several small ones. It is shown that in the absence of an oxidant it is admissible and even desirable to divide the solution into several small portions because in this case the distribution of the metal over the electrode depth is somewhat improved, and the final mass of the deposited metal is larger. However, in the presence of an oxidant solution partitioning causes the dissolution of silver inside the porous electrode during processing the second and subsequent portions and has unfavorable effect on the final distribution of the metal and on its final mass.