Investigation into formation of zirconium hydroxide sol during electrolysis of ZrOClΛ2 solution

The zirconium hydroxide sol formation during the electrolysis of zirconium oxycloride solution has been studied using methods of electric conductivity. Raman spectroscopy and determination of rheological properties. Electrolysis of the ZrOCl2 solution proceeds with the zirconium polymerization and hydrolysis; with a decrease in the Cl/Zr ratio in the 1.0-0.55 range the polymerization degree increases and a stable colloidal solution of zirconium hydroxide is formed. The Raman spectra of the solutions confirm the data of other methods on a prevailing presence of zirconium Macroquantities in hydrochloric solutions in the form of tetramers and indicate their hydrolysis and polymerizatio n in the course of electrolysis. As regards the rheological properties, the solutions with the Cl/Zr ratio >0.6