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Britannica Sources used in this answer

When did electrolytic zinc production begin commercial operation?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for zinc, showing its atomic number 30, symbol Zn, atomic weight 65.38, electron configuration, name, hexagonal crystal structure, solid state at room temperature, and classification as a transition metal.
zinc

Commercial operation for the electrolytic production of zinc began around 1915–1918. While earlier attempts were made following a 1881 patent by Frenchman Léon Letrange, these were unsuccessful because they lacked the necessary high-purity sulfate electrolyte. The process eventually succeeded once the critical requirement for extreme purification of the electrolyte was realized.12