Electro-deposition of manganese with selenious acid as an addition agent

The results of experiments with selenious acid as an addition agent to study the influence of different cell variables on the current efficiency of deposition of manganese, hydrogen and selenium content of deposited manganese and consumption of electrical energy per kilo-gram of deposited metal have been presented. Current efficiencies of the order of 90 per cent, corresponding
to an energy consumption of 5 kWh per kilogram of depo-sited manganese, can be obtained from electrolysis of
125-50 gm of manganese sulphate, 125-50 gm of ammonium sulphate and 0.1 gm of seleniors acid per litre of elec-trolyte in a double compartment cell between stainless steel cathodes and lead-silver anodes, with arrangement for flow of electrolyte, at a catholyte pH of 7.8, tem-perature of 28-30°C and at a cathodic current density of 4.8 amps/sq dm.

Cell reactions leading to the precipitation of selenium in the cathode chamber has been discussed along with hydrogen content and stripping of deposited metal.