Electrowinning is a widely used production method for many metals including copper and zinc. As part of the electrowinning process, oxygen bubbles are formed in a liquid electrolyte which then rise and burst, ejecting fine acidic droplets into the air which scatter throughout the workplace. This acid mist not only poses a serious health hazard to the workers but also causes severe corrosion to equipment.
Researchers at James Cook University have developed a new acid mist barrier system that provides superior acid mist capture performance and offers some key competitive advantages including: no interference with the meta production process; low capital and maintenance cost; total coverage of the electrolyte surface; improved safety.