Electrolytic recovery of tin from tinplate scrap

In this investigation, attempts have been made to recover the metallic tin by electrilytic detinning of tinplate scrap. The elctrolysis is carried out with a caustic soda bath. Stainless steel sheets have been used as cathode and the tinplate scrap, packed in the form of rectangular bundles, serves the purpose of the anode. Experiments have been carried out to determine the optimum condition of concentration of caustic soda, sodium acetate, sodium stannate and sodium carbonate in the electrolyte, temperature of the bath, current density, amount of scraps to be charged, time of detinning and other factors such as dissolution and deposition of tin by electrolysis. (Messrs B.N. Singh, Senior Scientific Assistant and H.K. Chakravarti, Scientist, National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur