Abstract
Research article presents an electrochemical method for obtaining selenium powder from compounds of 4-valent selenium in the presence of copper (II) ions. The electrolysis was carried out in an electrolytic cell with an unseparated interelectrode space in a hydrochloric acid solution containing copper chloride, where a copper electrode was used as the anode and a titanium electrode as the cathode.Cu (I) –Cu (II) redox pair potential difference was used as a reducing agent. Ultrafine selenium powder formation as a result of the chemical reduction of selenium (IV) ions by copper (I) ions obtained by anodic dissolution, as well as by the interaction of copper (II) ions with an anode was shown. Results of our study were presented, showing the influence of electrolysis conditions, current density, temperature of medium, acid concentration and copper (II) ion concentration during electrolysis on selenium formation current output, shape and size of the resulting powder. Study results demonstrate selenium powder formation with a very high current efficiency.