Abstract
“The modern method usually employed in the electrical separation of Nickel originated in the
use of the double sulphate of nickel and ammonium first suggested by Prof. Boettger in 1843. The deposition, however, was very slow and the conductivity of the electrolyte was extremely small. to remedy this latter defect a number of substances were suggested, ammonium sulphate being most frequently used for the purpose. Under suitable conditions a good coherent deposit can be obtained and the process though lengthy, admits of a quantitative estimation of the amount of nickel present in a solution.
Numerous experimenters have observed that nitrates exert a most disturbing effect on such estimations. In recent years Thiele (Zeit Electrochem 1908: 14) found that the presence of nitrates yields high results owing to deposition of nickel oxide on the cathode. The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of the addition of known amounts of nitrate on the deposition of the metal and, if time permitted, to eliminate the disturbing products of the electrolysis.’ [Extract from thesis]