COMPARATIVE VIEW OF COPPER ELECTROLYTIC REFINING BY USING STANDARD AND NON-STANDARD ELECTRODES

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 3, 821-828 pp

ABSRACT

Based on studying the current distribution in electrochemical cells with plate electrodes,
it was concluded that besides the main factors which affect the distribution of current
density (electrolytic cell geometry, electrolyte and electrode conductivity, activation ie,
the polarization or electrochemical resistance and concentration overvoltage), the shape
of electrode has influences on the electrolytic refining process, too.

This paper presents the results of experimental investigations of electrolytic refining of
anode copper in semi-industrial plant, under different conditions:

1. Standard (rectangular) shape electrodes

2. Standard (rectangular) shape anodes and non-standard cathodes (cathode bottom line is constructed along the line of the ellipse)

3. Non-standard shape electrodes (anodes and cathodes bottom lines are constructed along the line of the ellipse)

The best results were obtained at copper electrolytic refining by using non-standars
shape electrodes because the regular current distribution in electrochemical cells

Keywords: standard electrodes, non-standard electrodes, electrolytic refining