Mehmed E.Stefanova V.Lucheva B.2024-07-162024-07-162024-07-162024-07-162014-02-251314-74711314-7978SCOPUS_ID:84894087406https://rlib.uctm.edu/handle/123456789/1045The basic method for the electrolyte zinc production is an electrowinning process based on sulfate solutions. The presence of the impurities in the electrolyte is a major problem for the zinc electrowinning industry. They decrease the current efficiency, increase the energy consumption and deteriorate the quality of cathode deposited zinc. In this work the influence of the concentration of germanium in the synthetic or industrial electrolyte from 0 to 3.17 mg/L and 0.04 to 3.21 mg/L respectively, without and in the present of antimony (4.95 mg/L) on zinc electrodepositing has been studied. For this purpose, two electrochemical techniques have been used: a cyclic voltammetry and a galvanostatic deposition. It has been established that the increase of germanium concentration in the zinc sulfate electrolyte above 0.05 mg/l leds to essential decreasing of hydrogen overpotential and intensive reverse anodic dissolution of zinc. The presence of germanium ions in the electrolyte, significantly decreases the current efficiency and the quality of the electrodeposited zinc. The harmful effect of germanium in the electrolyte is increased in the presence of antimony.enArticle