ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF SILVER DISSOLUTION IN CYANIDE SOLUTIONS

Rate processes of the anodic dissolution of silver in cyanide solutions were studied by various electrochemical techniques using a rotating disk electrode. Both the process mechanism and rate-influencing factors such as agitation, cyanide concentration, and temperature were examined. Anodic silver dissolution may be separated into two elementary steps: an electrochemical reaction followed by a chemical reaction. Considering charge transfer plus diffusion of cyanide ions from the bulk solution to the silver surface as being rate limiting, the rate of anodic silver dissolution was calculated using the combined Butler-Volmer and Levich equations.