The purification of copper refinery electrolyte

Abstract

The phrase “purification of copper refinery electrolyte” is misleading since typically, impurities are controlled by withdrawing a bleedstream of the circulating electrolyte. However, solvent extraction and ion exchange have also found some application in impurity control. This article describes conventional practice, including treatment of the bleedstream, and other attempts at electrolyte purification. Impurities to be discussed include Sb, Bi, As, Ni, Ca, ammonia, and organic fragments generated from hydrolysis of conventional cathode growth-modifying addition agents.