Synergistic promotion of ascorbic acid and sodium citrate to the stability of electrolyte for electrolytic iron production.

The stability of the electrolyte plays a crucial role in influencing the efficiency of iron deposition and the quality of the resulting product. This study explores the roles of different additives, L-ascorbic acid (AA), citric acid (CA), and sodium citrate (CA-Na), in maintaining the stability of ferrous ions and investigates their effects on the hydrogen evolution and iron deposition process. Experimental results indicate that the stabilizing effects of AA, CA, and CA-Na on ferrous ions weaken in succession. The addition of AA effectively counteracts air oxidation, while the addition of CA-Na significantly inhibits hydrogen evolution reactions. These additives can form complexes or coordination compounds, engaging in coordination reactions with iron ions, thereby reducing the precipitation and oxidation of iron ions and maintaining the stability of iron ion concentration in the electrolyte. However, they also exert a certain degree of influence on the cathodic deposition of iron ions. The results of this study suggest that, in chloride aqueous solutions, the judicious addition of additives such as AA, CA, and CA-Na can effectively inhibit the oxidation of ferrous ions, maintain the stability of iron ions in the electrolyte, and concurrently suppress the occurrence of hydrogen evolution reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]