Rectifier for Copper Electrolysis Industry

Production Process

Copper electrolytic refining is the process of casting copper refined by pyrometallurgical methods into anode plates, using pure copper sheets as cathode plates, and alternately placing them into electrolytic cells. The electrolyte is composed of an aqueous solution of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid. Under the action of direct current, copper on the anode and base metals with negative potential dissolve into the solution.

Production Process Flow

During the electrolysis process, copper ions in the solution preferentially precipitate on the cathode, while other base metals with negative potentials cannot precipitate on the cathode and remain in the electrolyte. These base metals are removed during regular electrolyte purification. Therefore, the metal copper deposited on the cathode has high purity and is called cathode copper or electrolytic copper, abbreviated as electrolytic copper.

Overview of Copper Refining

Copper Refining

Copper refining refers to the process of purifying crude copper (copper with high impurities) through physical or chemical methods to obtain high-purity copper. Coarse copper is usually extracted from copper ore by pyrometallurgy and contains various impurities such as gold, silver, iron, nickel, sulfur, etc. The main purpose of copper refining is to remove these impurities, improve the purity and performance of copper, and make it suitable for industrial applications. Copper refining is usually divided into two stages: pyrometallurgical refining and electrolytic refining.

Fire Refining

Melt crude copper and add oxidants (such as air or oxygen) to oxidize impurities (such as iron, sulfur, etc.). Impurities form oxides, float on the surface of the copper liquid, form slag, and are removed. The remaining copper with a purity of about 98-99% is called anode copper and is used for subsequent electrolytic refining.

Electrolytic Copper

Make the anode copper obtained by pyrometallurgical refining into an anode plate and place it in an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell contains electrolytes of copper sulfate (CuSOx) and sulfuric acid (H ₂ SOx). After being powered on, the anode copper dissolves, and copper ions (Cu ² ⁺ ) migrate to the cathode and deposit as high-purity copper on the cathode. Electrolytic copper is the final product of copper refining. Electrolytic refining is the final step in copper refining, determining the final purity of copper.

Overview of Copper Refining

Copper Refining

Copper refining refers to the process of purifying crude copper (copper with high impurities) through physical or chemical methods to obtain high-purity copper. Coarse copper is usually extracted from copper ore by pyrometallurgy and contains various impurities such as gold, silver, iron, nickel, sulfur, etc. The main purpose of copper refining is to remove these impurities, improve the purity and performance of copper, and make it suitable for industrial applications. Copper refining is usually divided into two stages: pyrometallurgical refining and electrolytic refining.

Fire Refining

Melt crude copper and add oxidants (such as air or oxygen) to oxidize impurities (such as iron, sulfur, etc.). Impurities form oxides, float on the surface of the copper liquid, form slag, and are removed. The remaining copper with a purity of about 98-99% is called anode copper and is used for subsequent electrolytic refining.

Electrolytic Copper

Make the anode copper obtained by pyrometallurgical refining into an anode plate and place it in an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell contains electrolytes of copper sulfate (CuSOx) and sulfuric acid (H ₂ SOx). After being powered on, the anode copper dissolves, and copper ions (Cu ² ⁺ ) migrate to the cathode and deposit as high-purity copper on the cathode. Electrolytic copper is the final product of copper refining. Electrolytic refining is the final step in copper refining, determining the final purity of copper.

IGBT Electrolysis Rectifier